A viral jacket potato brand, known for its massive social media following, has announced it will launch a new store in a city where it was recently accused of bullying a small, independent trader with a legal threat.
New Store Sparks Fresh Controversy
SpudBros, run by brothers Jacob and Harley Nelson, revealed they will begin trading in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on January 27. The new brick-and-mortar site on the city's high street will be situated just yards away from Jacket Potato Ladies, a vendor that has served the community for over 35 years.
This move comes just months after SpudBros sparked significant backlash by threatening legal action against another Portsmouth business, The Spud Father, over its name in October. Following the outcry, the brothers released a statement claiming they had no plans to sue but wanted to protect their brand. Nevertheless, The Spud Father was forced to rebrand to Spud Fusion.
Local Business Owners Voice Their Concerns
Vicky Penford, 44, who owns and operates Jacket Potato Ladies, said the news of SpudBros' arrival gave her a "feeling of doom." She expressed worry about competing with a franchise boasting over four million TikTok followers.
"I was certainly a bit taken aback when I heard," Ms Penford stated. "We have been here for 36 years and it would be a shame if we were just to go. I heard about the legal issues they had with Spud Fusion and know that if anything like that happened to me then there would be nothing I could do about it."
Despite her fears, she is trying to remain positive, hoping the new opening will bring more footfall to the area. "I take a positive outlook and hope that it just brings people to the area and more people to me," she added.
Mixed Reactions from the Community and Competitors
Local residents have been quick to support Jacket Potato Ladies on social media, with some criticising SpudBros' decision. One commenter, Aimi-leigh Dawkins, suggested the arrival seemed like a "targeted attack," while Daniel Son stated the brand was "not welcome in Portsmouth."
However, Rumen Islam, the 27-year-old owner of Spud Fusion, struck a more defiant tone. His stall is about a mile from the new SpudBros location. "I don't think it is going to affect us at all," he said. "We are confident in the product and confident in our business and most importantly in our loyal customers... All I'd say is new year, new challenge. Bring it on."
In a social media post ahead of the opening, SpudBros said the new Portsmouth Express store was owned by a local entrepreneur who wanted to "give something back to Portsmouth." The post claimed the goal was to "create a real buzz" and support the wider food scene, "including other local potato sellers."
SpudBros, which rebranded in 2020, already has locations in London, Liverpool, Sheffield, Blackburn, and Wakefield, and has expressed ambitions to open around ten more stores this year.
