Global bakery chain Pret A Manger has issued an independent artisan bakery with a legal notice to change its name for being "too similar" to theirs.
London based bakery Bread A Manger were left shocked after the billion pound company sent an email 'demanding' that they had just nine days to change their company name, logo and promotional materials.
The independent bakery was set up by French-born Fouad Saber, 42 and Michelin star baker, Bertrand Kerleo, 47 after their businesses were devastated by the pandemic two years ago.
Now, they are being threatened with financial ruin once again, after Pret A Manger - which operates around 450 UK outlets - sent them the notice ordering them to hand over their website for free.
However, the owners have said they won't back down as the costs to change their company is money they do not have, reports Hull Live.
Mr Saber said: "I was convinced it was a scam. I really thought it was a scam until I checked online the name of the lawyer company. "I found it funny at first. But when I read the letter it was quite scary.
"It was a 15-page letter demanding today for us to change the company name, change the sign, hand over the website for free. "It would cost around £8,000 to £10,000 to change everything.
"Our customers mostly pay and order online so even the thought of doing anything like what they are asking would badly damage the business."
The legal order came from top international patent and trademark law firm Dehns, which has seven offices in the UK and one in Norway.
Mr Saber insists that the two companies are completely different, as they specialise in patisserie, birthday cakes, and bread using homegrown ingredients and bakes fresh every day.
In comparison, Pret are seen as a 'ready to go' fast-food outlet.
He added: ""They are completely two different companies. It means 'bread to eat'. Pret A Manger is different in French, it means 'ready to go' or 'ready to eat' depending on how you use it.
"Pret A Manger was set up in London by an Englishman in the 80s. Obviously, they do sandwiches, salads, coffee, etc - it's fast food. We're completely different. We are a patisserie, we make bread, we do birthday cakes. We're not in competition.
"No one ever has come to us and said it looks like a Pret. We honestly didn't think about [Pret] when we created the name."
The owners of the artisan bakery have said that they are determined to fight the case and that their fans have helped them, including a judge who recommended a lawyer to help them fight the case.
Mr Saber continued: "I'm not scared about it because it has been nearly two years since we opened our business.
"We've worked hard to build the company and we're dedicated to proving our case. I'm from Lyon, we never stop fighting.
"If someone had come down and spoke to us as human beings, I hoped we could have worked it out that way. He added: "The reason why we are not in depression is that our customers are supporting us and we really appreciate it.
In response, Pret released a statement stating that they had "a duty of care to ensure their brand is not diluted."
Jo Holinska, Head of Operations, London City, Pret A Manger, said: “Thousands of Pret Team Members across London have worked hard to earn the trust of customers in the city over the past four decades, and although we appreciate it when other businesses take inspiration from what we do, this name is just too close, especially when many of the products are similar too.
“We’re more than happy to give the business the time it needs to make these changes and to provide any support we can, and we’ll be getting in touch again to see if we can resolve this in a fair and amicable way.”
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