The Delhi High Court has restrained Bengaluru-based Alpino Health Foods from publishing or sharing its ads that disparage ‘Oats’ as a food category.
This restriction covers both social media and other platforms. As per reports, the ruling comes in response to a suit filed by FMCG giant and the makers of Saffola Oats– Marico, who alleged that Alpino’s ad campaign, consisting of an audio-visual (AV) ad and social media posts, generically disparaged oats.
Marico also alleged that Alpino’s campaign, featuring its investor and brand ambassador- Shilpa Shetty, depicted rolled oats as “lifeless, boring, and impossible to finish”.
The interim injunction, issued by Justice Mini Pushkarna, was granted ex parte. Moreover, the reports stated that Marico expressed concerns, describing Alpino’s ad campaign as a “brazen and bizarre” attempt against the ‘Oats’ category.
Furthermore, the HC noted that Marico presented a prima facie case for granting the ad interim injunction and it issued a summons in the suit.
The next hearing of the matter is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2025.
