Aldi Loses Appeal in Little Bellies Copycat Packaging Case

Aldi has lost an appeal against Australian baby food maker Little Bellies over copyright infringement in its private-label snack packaging. An appellate court upheld the 2024 Federal Court ruling against the discounter. It also extended the infringement finding to cover additional products.

At issue is the grocer’s Mamia toddler snack line, which copied packaging created by Little Bellies. Brothers Clive and Steven Sher founded the Australian snack business before expanding it across supermarket shelves.

Expansion of the 2024 ruling

Federal Court judges in 2024 found that three products in the Mamia range infringed Little Bellies’ design copyright. That verdict was a rare legal defeat for the retailer’s Australian packaging strategy.

Judges dismissed the appeal and widened the scope of that finding. The extended ruling confirms Mamia’s visual similarities went beyond allowable category cues to breach copyright protections.

Private-label scrutiny across the region

Aldi built its global discount model on private-label goods that mimic market-leading national brands. Across the Asia-Pacific region, grocers often test the line between standard category cues and intellectual property infringement to win value-focused shoppers.

The decision narrows legal leeway for store-brand lookalikes across grocery aisles. The court will now determine final orders and damages for the affected product lines.