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Judge says Smucker’s lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over frozen PB&J can proceed

The judge said Smucker has spent 20 years building Uncrustables and can seek restitution and destruction of Trader Joe’s products.

  • A federal judge ruled Friday that Smucker can proceed with a trademark lawsuit against Trader Joe over frozen sandwiches, alleging the retailer copied the round shape and packaging of the popular Uncrustables brand.
  • Smucker sued Trader Joe in Ohio last fall, claiming the retailer's frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches mimic the crimped edges and round design of Uncrustables while featuring strikingly similar packaging imagery.
  • In court filings, Trader Joe argued its sandwiches are "squircles," not round, and lack the fame of iconic trademarks like the Nike swoosh or McDonald golden arches, claiming the crimped design is functionally necessary.
  • District Judge John Adams rejected Trader Joe's request to move the case to California, ruling Smucker devoted significant resources to protecting the Uncrustables brand over 20 years, establishing strong consumer associations with the design.
  • Seeking restitution and product destruction, Smucker's case echoes a 2025 lawsuit where Mondelez International sued Aldi, alleging the chain's store-brand cookies "blatantly copies" products like Chips Ahoy and Oreos.
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Judge says Smucker's lawsuit against Trader Joe's over frozen sandwiches can proceed

Smucker accused Trader Joe's of infringing on its Uncrustables trademark.

·Spokane, United States
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The Business Journal broke the news on Monday, August 31, 2026.
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