High Street giant M&S heads to court to stop rival sweetmakers ‘copying’ Percy Pigs

Marks & Spencer is heading to court to stop rival sweetmakers ‘ripping off’ its much-loved Percy Pigs.

The High Street giant has accused British sweetmaker Swizzels of copying the famous animal shaped sweets with its Pigs Mugs treats.

M&S lawyers claim that the sweets are so alike that customers may end up buying the wrong ones. 

Court papers show that they want all copycat sweets destroyed, damages considered and an injunction against Swizzels, according to The Sun.

Percy Pigs are incredibly popular among M&S customers. The store has accused Swizzles of copying their much-loved sweets brand

The 37-page document was filed at the High Court in London this month and says that the Percy Pig brand has generated a £131.7million turnover since its launch in 1993 and currently 271 bags are sold a minute. 

In their legal submission, an example was even used of a customer who loves the sweets so much that they have a tattoo of Percy’s face. 

An M&S spokesperson told The Sun: ‘It is important to protect the registered trademarks.’

In their legal submission, an example was even used of a customer who loves the sweets so much that they have a tattoo of Percy’s face. Pictured: M&S store front

Founded in 1928, Derbyshire-based Swizzels has not yet filed a defence.

Swizzels is well-known for classics such as Refreshers, Parma Violets and Drumsticks and has been selling its Pigs Mugs sweets since 1996.

But the lawyers for M&S and German sweetmaker Katjes, which produces Percy Pigs, have argued that the Pigs Mugs logo and branding is ‘highly similar’.

Marks & Spencer and Swizzles were contacted by MailOnline for comment.