Weight loss giant launches Asda legal challenge
Asda is facing legal action from weightloss giant Slimming World over its own-brand products.
The Derbyshire slimming company is launching a challenge against Leeds-based Asda over a ready meal range, which it says is “unlawfully” affiliated with its meal plan.
Asda introduced its Slimzone products last month, and Slimming World, which has product lines at frozen food supermarket Iceland, said it was using Slimming World trademarks on the products, which are intended to be consumed along with a Slimming World plan.
A statement from Slimming World said: “After careful consideration and on the advice of our legal team, Slimming World has this week taken action to ask Asda to remove our trademarks from their range of Slimzone meals.
“We believe that Asda are unlawfully using our much loved and much respected name and trademarks on their meals (that’s Slimming World, Extra Easy and Free), and are trading on the back of our brand’s reputation, which we’ve built and nurtured over 47 years.
“At the same time, we have decided that we won’t be adding the Slimzone products to our official nutrition database.
“Although we asked Asda to let us have a more detailed breakdown of the ingredients used, they have not supplied those details and we have put on hold any decision about whether or not to include the meals in our official database.
“We know that this news will be frustrating to some members and we are truly sorry for the disappointment it will cause. The situation is beyond our control.
“The case is now in the hands of a judge and we won’t be able to comment further on the meals themselves until we know the outcome of the case.”
An Asda Spokesperson said, “Our customers have told us that saving money and leading a healthy lifestyle is a priority and that is why we developed our Slimzone range for them. We’re confident in Slimzone and our customers seem to love it too. We’ve shared a full list of ingredients for the Slimzone meals to help our customers make up their own minds.”
