Oct 13 (Reuters) - Jif peanut butter maker J.M. Smucker

Company on Monday sued Trader Joe's in federal court,

accusing the national grocery chain of infringing trademarks

tied to its popular Uncrustables brand of frozen sandwiches.

The lawsuit, filed in Ohio, alleges that Trader Joe's competing

round, crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too closely

mimic Smucker's product design and packaging.

Smucker's claims that California-based Trader Joe's product

unlawfully copies its sandwich's round shape with crimped edges

and imagery of a bitten sandwich revealing its filling. The

lawsuit also said Trader Joe's use of blue packaging is similar

to Smucker's trademarked branding.

Smucker's in a statement on Monday said it monitors the

marketplace to protect what it called its "distinctive

Uncrustables sandwich design and round shape." The company said

it was focused on "preventing consumer confusion caused by

imitation."

Trader Joe's did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.

Ohio-based Smucker's lawsuit said its Uncrustables products

"are fast on their way to being a $1 billion brand."

The company, which also makes Hostess snacks and Milk-Bone

dog treats, annually produces about 1.5 billion Uncrustables,

according to the lawsuit. The sandwiches come in a variety of

flavors and must be thawed before being eaten.

The lawsuit cites evidence allegedly showing consumers have

been misled into believing Trader Joe's sandwich is affiliated

with Smucker's.

Smucker's asked a judge to issue an order stopping Trader

Joe's from selling the allegedly infringing products. It also

seeks the destruction of infringing materials, restitution and

unspecified monetary damages.

Trader Joe's faced a similar trademark lawsuit in 2015 from

Pepperidge Farm, maker of Milano cookies, in federal court in

Connecticut. That case was dismissed with prejudice in 2016, but

the resolution was not publicly disclosed.

The case is The J.M. Smucker Company v. Trader Joe's

Company, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio,

No. 5:25-cv-02181.

For plaintiff: Meredith Wilkes of Jones Day

For defendant: No appearances yet