MADRID (Reuters) – Sicilian coffee roaster Zicaffe has asked the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIOP) to block the fashion giant. Inditex (BME:) uses the name Zacaffe for its new cafes, arguing that the name is too similar to its own brand.
Family business Zicaffe, which roasts and exports coffee blends, filed its response to the Spanish fashion chain's patent application on December 25, according to official records published on the EUIOP website seen by Reuters.
Zicaffe said 'zi' and 'za' are too close and there is a risk of confusion, unfair advantage and damage to the distinctive character of its own brand.
Inditex did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Vito Zichitella, one of Zicaffe's owners and grandson of its founder.
Inditex opened its first Zacaffe café in a new Zara Man store in Madrid as part of a broader strategy to offer new shopping experiences that drive sales.
The world's largest publicly traded fast fashion retailer filed an application to patent the Zacaffe brand on October 7, and opposing individuals and companies have until January 10 to respond. The EUIOP registration process takes several weeks and includes appeal possibilities.
Zacaffe opened in Madrid after Inditex tested in-store coffee areas early last year, notably in Paris and Lisbon, where it sells traditional Portuguese pastries, pasteis de nata.
Inditex's cafeterias will have independent entrances and will be adapted to their locations, according to the company when presenting the plan on its website.
In addition to Zara, Inditex owns other brands such as Bershka, Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti.
In his native Galicia, he has opened a new store concept called El Apartamento with space for a cafeteria.
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