Chocolate giant orders local island company to stop using ithe insland's name Ærø in its product titles

A small soap company on the island of Ærø, south of Funen, has come up against the might of chocolate giant Nestlé, which has issued a cease and desist order against it.

Inge Dahl has run her small firm from the island for the past 10 years, making soap, salt and tea. Last year she registered the company name as Ærø Specialiteter (Ærø Specialities), but Nestlé believes the name is too close to that of its trademarked chocolate Aero.

Dahl received a letter from Nestlé’s lawyers on Friday ordering her to change the name before the end of November, but said she can’t understand why islanders should not be allowed use the island’s actual name in their products.

‘If Ærø is translated to English then it becomes Aeroe, with an e at the end. It’s two completely different things – like comparing a fish with a bicycle,’ Dahl said to TV2 Fyn news.

Her lawyer, Jørgen Jørgensen, said it is unlikely that Nestlé has a case because Dahl is selling completely different products to the chocolate maker and she doesn’t even use the English version of the island’s name on her products.