ISLAMABAD: A Lahore-based restaurant, Options Coffee, has been served a show cause notice by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for allegedly fraudulently selling Starbucks coffee.
Registered in the State of Washington, Starbucks, an international coffeehouse chain, sent a complaint to the CCP that the Lahore-based restaurant was fraudulently using its trademark after which the commission served the notice.
An inquiry held by the commission found that the restaurant had displayed the Starbucks logo outside its premises and on its mugs, menus and flyers.
The restaurant had claimed that it was offering “Starbucks coffee made in Starbucks machines using the same method of production and giving customers the authentic Starbucks experience”.
Options restaurant admitted that it had not entered into an agreement with Starbucks pertaining to the use of its logo, according to the inquiry report.
The report also revealed that Options, by doing so, had violated Section 10 of the Competition Act which pertains to using false and misleading information.
