Blue Buffalo Sues Nestle Purina for False Advertising and Unfair Trade Practices

WILTON, Conn., May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Buffalo, the nation's leading natural pet food company, has filed a lawsuit against Nestle Purina PetCare Company for defamation, unfair competition, false advertising, and violations of trade practice statutes.

"In response to Nestle Purina's malicious attacks against us, we have initiated a lawsuit against them demanding that Nestle Purina and the individuals working in concert with them be held accountable for their false accusations about Blue Buffalo, and that their carefully orchestrated smear campaign against the BLUE brand cease," said Blue Buffalo founder Bill Bishop.

The complaint states that Nestle Purina has blanketed the media with blatantly false ads about Blue Buffalo's ingredients and malicious attacks on Blue Buffalo's integrity.

Blue Buffalo seeks injunctive relief, corrective advertising, and damages occasioned by Defendants' false and deceptive advertising campaign.

Nestle Purina is a subsidiary of Nestle S.A., which is the world's largest food company with over $100 billion in annual sales and more than $220 billion in market capitalization. It is the largest pet food company in the United States with a dominant 33% market share, which is more than twice that of its next competitor. 

Blue Buffalo was launched in the United States as a family company just over a decade ago to provide consumers with a high quality, natural choice in pet food.  Blue Buffalo understands that "pet parents" do not want to feed their dogs and cats ground and rendered poultry necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines that many other pet food companies, including Nestle Purina, choose to put in their foods. Nor do they want to feed foods composed of corn, artificial colors or artificial preservatives. Instead of these undesirable ingredients, Blue Buffalo pet foods contain high-quality natural ingredients, including deboned chicken, lamb or fish as the first ingredient, wholesome whole grains, garden vegetables, and antioxidant-rich fruits. 

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis under the case caption Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. v. Nestle Purina Pet Care Company, and John Does 1 – 10. No docket number or judge had been assigned at the time of this release.

Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo is now the fastest-growing pet food company in the United States, and has carved a leading position in the burgeoning natural-foods segment of the market.  The company's brand is built on a commitment to using natural, high-quality ingredients and on its transparency with consumers about the ingredients in its products. Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., located in Wilton, CT, is the nation's leading natural pet food company, and provides a complete line of healthy and holistic natural foods and treats for dogs and cats. Blue Buffalo products are sold nationwide in pet specialty stores only. For more information visit BlueBuffalo.com.

Contact: Richard MacLean (203) 762-9751 x243

SOURCE Blue Buffalo