While looking for the latest fast weight loss solution news at various online news portals, I came across this article, “Weight Watchers Sues Jenny Craig Over Ad Campaign” at www.Bloomberg.com.
I am kind of surprised to read that the largest weight-loss program company, Weight Watchers International Inc. is suing its rival Jenny Craig Inc. over its advertisng campaign that said its weight-loss program was superior to Weight Watchers’.
Here is the full article of “Weight Watchers Sues Jenny Craig Over Ad Campaign:
By Thom Weidlich
Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — Weight Watchers International Inc. sued rival Jenny Craig Inc., claiming it lied in an advertising campaign saying its weight-loss program is superior to Weight Watchers’.
The centerpiece of the campaign is a TV ad featuring spokeswoman Valerie Bertinelli in a lab coat saying that “a major clinical trial” shows “Jenny Craig clients lost, on average, over twice as much weight as those on the largest weight-loss program,” referring to Weight Watchers, according to a complaint filed today in federal court in New York.
“The Jenny Craig advertisements are false,” Weight Watchers said. “Jenny Craig did not conduct ‘a major clinical trial’ comparing its product with the Weight Watchers program.”
Weight Watchers, based in New York, asked the court to stop Jenny Craig, a unit of Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle SA, from using advertisements claiming its weight-loss program is superior. It also seeks damages.
Weight Watchers said the beginning of the year is “a critical time for weight-loss companies” as consumers seek to stick to New Year’s resolutions to drop pounds.
Jenny Craig’s “false and deceptive advertising campaign” is based on separate studies comparing the two companies’ programs with dieters who didn’t use a commercial program, according to the complaint. The Weight Watchers study is 10 years old, according to the complaint.
‘Comparative Claim’
“Jenny Craig is confident in our comparative claim, and we do not believe a head-to-head challenge is required to prove the effectiveness of the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program,” Jenny Craig Chief Executive Officer Patti Larchet said in an e-mailed statement. “If Weight Watchers chose to pursue such a challenge, we would gladly welcome the opportunity to participate.”
In the campaign started in late December, Jenny Craig makes similar claims to those in the TV ad in print and Internet advertising and on its Web site, according to the complaint.
The advertising and Web site note that the results were from separate studies, Jenny Craig said in its statement.
In September, Weight Watchers sued Nestle over claims its frozen-food packaging infringes the weight-control company’s trademarks. Weight Watchers said Nestle’s Dreyer’s ice cream unit’s Skinny Cow brand used the Weight Watchers trademark on Web sites and packaging of diet frozen foods and desserts.
Nestle and Dreyer’s have until Feb. 1 to respond to that suit, according to the docket.
The case is Weight Watchers International Inc. v. Jenny Craig Inc., 1:10-cv-00392, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
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