Dali grocery chain ordered to stop sale of suspected rip off products

Dali is selling Kulina catsup and chili sauce, and Rajah Puro vinegar and soy sauce in packaging confusingly similar to Nutri-Asia’s popular household brands UFC and Datu Puti products. (Photos from law firm Cruz Marcelo and Tenefrancia website)

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Tuesday confirmed it has issued an injunction against the Dali Everyday Grocery (Dali), compelling the supermarket chain to pull out three condiment products from its store shelves that have packaging strikingly similar to other popular brands.

IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said in a message sent to the Inquirer that their Bureau of Legal Affairs did issue an order last February.

The Inquirer learned from another source that there are still pending incidents in the case, and that trial is ongoing.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: DTI slaps Dali with show cause order

In a recent statement, law firm Cruz Marcelo and Tenefrancia said they are representing Nutri-Asia, Inc. in a case of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and copyright infringement against Hard Discount Philippines, the operator of Dali Everyday Grocer.

The case stems from the Dali selling Kulina catsup and chili sauce, and Rajah Puro vinegar and soy sauce in packaging confusingly similar to Nutri-Asia’s popular household brands UFC and Datu Puti products.

Dali has recently found itself in a back-to-back trouble with the law, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) saying last month that they issued a show cause order against the Dali Everyday Grocery (Dali) over a number of consumer rights-related issues.

Trade assistant secretary Amanda Nograles had said that a show cause order was sent to Dali last May 29, compelling them to explain 13 instances of complaints filed by the consumer rights group Malayang Konsymer.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: DTI probes ‘deceptive’ retailer

“There are issues in their branches in Marikina, in Rizal, Parañaque. Many different branches are involved,” she said in an interview over Teleradyo Serbisyo, the former DZMM station.

The trade official said there were also allegations of cashiers being arrogant and rude, sanitary issues, erroneous weighing of goods, and shoppers getting mistaken as shoplifters, among others.

If found guilty, Nograles said the company could face an administrative fine of up to P300,000 and possible sanction of business permit revocation for non-compliance with sanitary regulations in their area of operations.