tyb and dank tunes, love the slide guitar
Bodum sues Starbucks for product disparagement over French press recall
Bodum Holding AG sued Starbucks Corp on Friday for alleged product disparagement in connection with the coffee company's recent U.S. and Canadian recall of 263,200 co-branded French presses made from recycled materials.
In a complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Bodum said Starbucks had no basis to “unilaterally” conduct the May 1 recall because the Bodum + Starbucks presses were not defective and met required specifications.
Bodum also accused Seattle-based Starbucks of creating the impression that Bodum French presses in general are defective, causing a media backlash and “significant brand damage” to the Lucerne, Switzerland-based company.
The lawsuit seeks to force Starbucks to pay all costs for the recall and pay damages to Bodum for hurting its reputation.
Starbucks believes Bodum’s claims are without merit. In a statement, it said it recalled the French presses because of customer complaints, and stood by the decision because it took employee and customer safety “very seriously.”
Bodum is among the best-known makers of French presses, and has sold them at Starbucks under a 2002 purchasing agreement.
People use the presses by adding ground beans and hot water to a pot and, after steeping, pushing down on a plunger to make coffee.
Starbucks said it recalled presses sold from November 2016 to January 2019 for about $20 each after receiving nine reports of broken plunger knobs, resulting in lacerations or punctures.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-starbucks-lawsuit-bodum/bodum-sues-starbucks-for-product-disparagement-over-french-press-recall-idUSKCN1SG2HD