Woolies denies copying pasta

Woolworths has denied allegations of copying levelled by Cape Town pasta manufacturer Happy Earth People.

In a post on its website‚ founder and co-owner of Happy Earth People, Teleszia Pillay, alleges that the retailer copied its chickpea and lentil pasta products.

Happy Earth People claims it was the first to sell the products in SA, in 2016.

Pillay said she received a text message and picture from a friend in November 2018 who spotted the chickpea pasta product on Woolies’ shelves.

Woolworths has refuted the claims, saying it was the first to sell legume-based pasta in SA, in September 2015.

“We first saw the trend of legume-based pasta in 2015 at the Anuga food conference in Germany.

“Our Italian pasta producer did their first tests using legume ingredients to make pasta in 2014.

“In May 2015, it began commercial production trials and in September 2015 the products were launched.”

Pillay said Woolworths’ alleged duplication of Happy Earth People’s lentil and chickpea pasta products cost it a business opportunity.

“We were working on securing a business development opportunity with a big corporate,” she said.

“However‚ once they got wind that Woolworths were importing products similar to ours‚ this bright‚ shiny opportunity dropped us like a hot potato.”

Woolworths said it was not true that it did not support local‚ saying more than 90% of its products were sourced or produced in SA.

“In this instance‚ we import to provide customers with authentic pasta,” it said.

“Our supplier has been producing pasta since 1920 and has immense pasta-making expertise.”