Luxury residential developer Candy & Candy is suing a firm of East London builders accused of stealing its name.
The firm, led by brothers Nick and Christian Candy, is taking rival sibling-team Peter and Paul Magri, of the Magri Group, to court over their 60-apartment residential development ‘Candy Wharf’.
Candy & Candy director Steven Smith told Property Week: “It’s very simple really – we’ve spent years developing and creating the brand.
“With over a million words in the language why would you choose that one?”
In a 10-page claim filed at the High Court Candy & Candy says the use of its name devalues the prestigious brand it has built over the past eight years.
The company is seeking an injunction to stop Magri trading on the name.
It also wants destruction or forfeiture of any sign bearing the name, an inquiry into the damages it has suffered and compensation.
A spokesperson said: “Candy & Candy will take whatever action it considers necessary to protect the reputation of its brand.
“In particular it is important that competitors do not seek to exploit the Candy name in a way that confuses the market and devalues the Candy image.”
But the Magri Group have hit back saying there is “no likelihood of any confusion” that their six-storey block in Mile End, with the majority of apartments on sale for between £250,000 and £375,000, would be confused with a Candy & Candy development.
In its defence statement, filed on July 2, the company says: “The Magri Group are well known developers having been active as property developers, particularly in the East End, since the 1980s.
“Further Candy Wharf is aimed at first time buyers, not the mega rich.”
The statement also says there has been no confusion since the building was named in early 2006 and point to a number of other properties like Candy Cottage and Candy Mill as proof there is a “lack of any real risk of confusion.”
It also says Magri will continue to use the name ‘Candy Wharf’ for the building, which has views over the Grand Union canal, and deny it should pay any money to the Candys.
Magri chief Peter Magri was unavailable for comment.
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