Although a type of sweet known as “Dubai chocolate” have become a popular craze in Germany, a court ruled on Monday that only products actually manufactured in Dubai itself can be marketed under that designation.
The case involved German discount grocery chain Aldi Süd’s “Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate” chocolates, which became an instant hit after being launched in stores in December.
Sweets referred to as “Dubai chocolate” are filled with pistachio cream and crispy pastry threads. The treat has become a trend in Germany and has been widely promoted by influencers on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
But the Cologne Regional Court issued a temporary injunction against Aldi Süd on Monday, noting that its “Alyan Dubai Handmade Chocolate” are actually produced in Turkey. The court ordered the grocer to halt sales of the product.
The court ruled that a product may only be labeled as “Dubai chocolate” or similar in Germany if it was manufactured in Dubai or has some other geographical connection to Dubai.
Otherwise, there is a risk that consumers will be misled, the court stated.
The lawsuit was filed by confectionery importer Andreas Wilmers, who sells the Dubai-produced Fex brand chocolate in Germany.
Aldi Süd faces a fine in the event of a repeat offence.
The discounter declined to comment on the ruling. The decision is not yet legally binding, and Aldi Süd can still lodge an appeal.
In December, Wilmers also issued legal warnings to the discount grocery chain Lidl and the confectionery maker Lindt due to the sale of Dubai chocolate.
No decision has yet been made in these proceedings.
Lindt responded by stating that the term “Dubai chocolate” was a term for a chocolate treat filled with pistachio kadayif pastry filling, and not for chocolate originating from Dubai.
Germany’s Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry has stated that “Dubai chocolate” could be produced anywhere in the world.
Aldi Süd began offering the “Dubai” chocolate in stores in December, and the back of the packaging stated that the chocolate was produced in Turkey.
The chocolates quickly sold out in many Aldi stores.
When Lindt launched “Dubai chocolate” at boutique stores across Germany in recent months, customers queued up outside. In some cases, Lindt “Dubai chocolate” bars – which were sold for up to €20 ($20) for 100 grammes in shops – could fetch hundreds of euros online.
According to Monday’s ruling in the case involving Aldi Süd, however, the name of the product leads consumers to assume “that the product was actually produced in Dubai and imported to Germany.”
