Upminster restaurant managers rebrand after Australian chef trademarks name
A thriving restaurant will have to change its name thanks to “Australia’s equivalent to Nigella Lawson” after they were told it had already been trademarked.
John Hoggett and brother Alex, managers of The Healthy Chef, Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, couldn’t believe it when they received a letter informing them that their restaurant had been trading under the same name as a business on the other side of the world.
Celebrity chef and dieting guru Teresa Cutter, founder of The Healthy Chef, a company which encourages people to take on a healthier lifestyle, has asked for the brothers to think of an alternative brand name.
John, 22, said: “It’s such a shame because we took a lot of time coming up with the name and now we can’t even use it.
“I’ve never heard of her before, but she wants us to change it as soon as possible.
“We never expected that something like this could happen.”
Upminster’s The Healthy Chef opened six months ago and despite Mrs Cutter’s business being set up a month later, she trademarked the brand before the restaurant managers.
A legal battle for the name would cost the pair £5,000 or more.
John said: “When we thought of The Healthy Chef, we didn’t think we would need to come up with a few options just in case that one didn’t work out.
“The restaurant has been getting more interest on social media so I’m guessing Teresa or someone from her team saw it online.
“We didn’t trademark the name because we thought we’re not a branch, we’re just a restaurant in Upminster so didn’t think anything of it.”
John is asking food-lovers for their help in coming up with a new name.
He said: “We want it to be quirky and involve the idea of being healthy because this is what we’re all about.”
To submit ideas for a new name email thehealthychef@outlook.com
Source: Romford Recorder - 6th February 2016
