M&S has removed an item from its site after a pub chain accused the retailer of “ripping off” its name.
The black and white “Pure Cotton Brewery Graphic T-Shirt” was on offer complete with the wording “Craft Beer Co.” on the front.
The Craft Beer Co tweeted the retailer on Thursday, asking: “What’s the idea with these T shirts!?
“Can we expect a royalties cheque in the post!? Surely one iconic British Institution shouldn’t be ripping off another…!!?”
M&S had described the T-shirt as having “St Michael Brewery-themed graphics on the back and chest” giving the item “a distinctive feel”.
‘We didn’t mean to cause any bitter-ness’
In response to the pub chain’s tweet, M&S said: “We didn’t mean to cause any ‘bitter-ness’ so have removed the tee from sale so we can investigate.
“Can we chat about it over a (craft) beer…later? On us of course!”
The pub replied and said: “The most iconic name on the British high street paying homage to us has been taken with the respect it was no doubt intended.”
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Reviewers on M&S’s site also accused the retailer of being “sexist” due to the “for proper good blokes” slogan on the shirt.
“This is a rip-off of The Craft Beer Co. and the writing is sexist,” one of the comments said.
Another user wrote: “Unbelievable sexist wording in this day and age.”
A spokesperson for M&S told Sky News the company takes intellectual property “very seriously.”
It said: “We take intellectual property very seriously and, while the T-shirt was designed in good faith, we’ve taken the decision to remove the product from sale so we can investigate further.”
‘The tables have turned’
On Thursday, supermarket chain Aldi also chimed in saying: “OH HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED.”
M&S took legal action against Aldi in 2021, claiming the supermarket was infringing the trademark of its Colin the Caterpillar cake, before a settlement was reached last year.
