A Portsmouth-based jacket potato vendor, The Spud Father, has changed its name after a dispute with the viral brand SpudBros over trademark infringement. The Spud Father, which opened last month, claimed it was threatened with legal action by SpudBros, who have trademarked several potato-related terms, including 'Spudfather'. In a Facebook statement, The Spud Father said the threat was 'gutting' and that they had poured their heart and soul into the business.
SpudBros, founded by brothers Harley and Jacob Nelson in Preston, amassed over four million TikTok followers with their potato creations. They have shops in London and Liverpool. In response, SpudBros denied threatening to sue, stating they trademarked 'Spudfather' for a dish named after their father. They said a 'huge misunderstanding' had led to threats against their family, including a three-year-old daughter.
SpudBros explained that their trademark was filed in June and approved in September, before The Spud Father launched. They noted that their lawyers responded to a trademark application from The Spud Father as required by the Intellectual Property Office, but no lawsuit was filed. They expressed regret that the dispute went public before direct communication.
The Spud Father has since changed its name to avoid further conflict, though the specific new name has not been disclosed. SpudBros said they have reached out to discuss the issue directly, emphasising they support small businesses and wish to resolve the matter amicably.
