Man Sues Texas Pete Hot Sauce Over North Carolina Production

A Los Angeles man is sick of the advertising lies! And he’s taking his frustration out in court docket. According to Nexstar Media Wire, Phillip White filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to T.W. Garner Food Co. He alleges the father or mother firm deceived him when he purchased a $3 bottle of Texas Pete sizzling sauce. The buy happened at Ralph’s grocery retailer in September 2021.

Phillip claims T.W. Garner “cheated its way to a market-leading position in the $3 billion hot-sauce industry at the expense of law-abiding competitors and consumers nationwide who desire authentic Texas hot sauce.”

Lawsuit Says The Texas Branded Hot Sauce Has Nothing Texas 

The go well with additionally particulars the look of the Texas Pete emblem. White says it consists of “the famed white ‘lone’ star from the Texan flag together with a ‘lassoing cowboy.”

But regardless of the down south affect, there may be “surprisingly nothing Texas” in regards to the sauce, per the go well with. And White’s claims appear to be backed by the sauce’s history, as instructed by Texas Pete’s web site.

The “tasty red pepper sauce made in North Carolina” obtained the title Texas Pete from a suggestion made by a advertising advisor. Sam Garner and his three sons Thad, Ralph, and Harold had invented a spicy new sauce, and the advisor beneficial ‘Mexican Joe.’ But Sam wasn’t with it, as an alternative wanting an “American name.”

“Sam suggested they move across the border to Texas, which also had a reputation for spicy cuisine. Then he glanced at son Harold, whose nickname was “Pete” and the Texas Pete cowboy was born.”

Over the years, the corporate produced a number of merchandise, from sizzling canine chili and honey mustard to seafood cocktail and inexperienced pepper sauce beneath the model Texas Pete. The manufacturing unit producing the branded merchandise is positioned in northwest Winston-Salem “on the original Garner family home site.” 

“In revealing the thought process behind its brand name, [T.W. Garner Food Co.] admits that Texas’s reputation was one they were trying to mimic and capitalize on when creating their brand,” Phillip’s lawsuit claims.

Phillip Says He Only Bought The Sauce Because Of Its Label

According to the lawsuit, Phillip wouldn’t have purchased the sauce if he knew it was produced in North Carolina. The firm, Phillip says, is harming Texas corporations and deceptive prospects.

“White relied upon the language and images displayed on the front label of the product, and at the time of purchase understood the product to be a Texas product,” the go well with stated.

As a end result, Phillip is on the lookout for the corporate to vary its title and branding. It’s unclear if he’s additionally looking for compensation. T.W. Garner Food Co. has but to answer the go well with.