The Entrepreneurs Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Monday, September 29, 2025
  • Login
  • Home
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • ENTERTAINMENT
Subscribe
The Entrepreneurs Weekly
  • Home
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • ENTERTAINMENT
No Result
View All Result
The Entrepreneurs Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Starbucks ‘Effectively Stole’ Coffee Lip Balm Idea, Lawsuit Says

by Brand Post
October 28, 2022
in Business
0
Starbucks ‘Effectively Stole’ Coffee Lip Balm Idea, Lawsuit Says
152
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


In a lawsuit filed last week, a Los Angeles-based company called Balmuccino claimed (again) that the coffee chain had stolen its ideas and suppliers for a coffee lip balm product.

Starbucks said via email that it “firmly believe[s] these claims to be without merit, and we look forward to presenting our case in court.”

This is the company’s second try at a suit. According to Reuters, the first suit was filed in 2019, but it was dismissed because the court found it “lacked jurisdiction” or didn’t have the authority to hear the case.

Balmuccino’s suit claims Starbucks “effectively stole” the lip balm idea after Balmuccino took a meeting with Mesh Gelman, who was then the company’s head of product development and an SVP in 2017. The suit says Gelman asked for a lot of information on the product and said he would “run the idea ‘up the flagpole.'” The idea was that Balmuccino would be “duly compensated and given proper credit” for the idea.

Then, the company claims that in 2018, a supplier for the lip balm told Balmuccino it received outreach from Starbucks for a product with “identical,” specifications that Balmuccino had given Gelman. In April 2019, as the suit notes, Starbucks released a line of lip balms based on the S’mores Frappuccino.

Keep that s’moregeous graham glam all summer long with the exclusive S’mores Frappuccino Sip Kit. Win this and s’more in the #SmoresLifeContest. https://t.co/B3o6JYvuQ6 pic.twitter.com/MHXGUHukBc

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 29, 2019

The original meeting came together, the suit says, because one of Balmuccino’s employees, Samantha Lemole, “was” a sister-in-law of Dr. Oz who then connected her with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (who is currently transitioning out of the role).

Balmuccino says that in the original meeting with Gelman, they asked the executives to sign an NDA and Gelman declined, saying that “the meeting and the items discussed therein were completely confidential and that the relationship between Mr. Schultz and Dr. Oz, who had brokered the meeting, should provide the necessary comfort and protections Plaintiff was seeking via the Non-Disclosure Agreement.”

Thus, the suit claims the company broke its verbal agreement to follow an NDA.

Lemole filed for divorce from George Griffith, who is related to Dr. Oz, based on IMDB pages in December 2020. But on her website biography, she says she is still married to Griffith and that Dr. Oz is her “brother-in-law.”

Balmuccino’s suit did not specify the damages.





Source link

Tags: BalmBusiness NewsCoffeeEffectivelyIdeaLawsuitLipNews and TrendsStarbucksStole

Related Posts

The Leadership Lessons Trauma Taught Me That No MBA Could
Business

The Leadership Lessons Trauma Taught Me That No MBA Could

September 29, 2025
This Simple Change Made Us Improve Almost Overnight — and Became a Huge Competitive Advantage
Business

This Simple Change Made Us Improve Almost Overnight — and Became a Huge Competitive Advantage

September 29, 2025
Master In-Demand Skills Without Outsourcing or Extra Costs With This  Learning Platform
Business

Master In-Demand Skills Without Outsourcing or Extra Costs With This $20 Learning Platform

September 28, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Meet Amir Kenzo: A Well Known Musical Artist From Iran.

Meet Amir Kenzo: A Well Known Musical Artist From Iran.

August 21, 2022
Behind the Glamour: Bella Davis Opens Up About Overcoming Adversity in Modeling

Behind the Glamour: Bella Davis Opens Up About Overcoming Adversity in Modeling

April 20, 2024
Dr. Donya Ball: Pioneering Leadership Solutions for Tomorrow’s Challenges

Dr. Donya Ball: Pioneering Leadership Solutions for Tomorrow’s Challenges

May 10, 2024
Nasiyr Bey’s Journey from Brooklyn to Charlotte: The Entrepreneurial Path to Owning a Successful Cigar Lounge

Nasiyr Bey’s Journey from Brooklyn to Charlotte: The Entrepreneurial Path to Owning a Successful Cigar Lounge

August 8, 2024
Augmented.City Startup Developers Appeal To US Politicians With An Open Letter

Augmented.City Startup Developers Appeal To US Politicians With An Open Letter

0
U.S. High Court Snubs Challenge To State And Local Tax Deduction Cap

U.S. High Court Snubs Challenge To State And Local Tax Deduction Cap

0
GOP Lawmaker Blames Biden For Russia-Ukraine War: Putin ‘Could never have Invaded’

GOP Lawmaker Blames Biden For Russia-Ukraine War: Putin ‘Could never have Invaded’

0
Brad Winget’s Tips and Tricks on Having a Career in Real Estate

Brad Winget’s Tips and Tricks on Having a Career in Real Estate

0
The Leadership Lessons Trauma Taught Me That No MBA Could

The Leadership Lessons Trauma Taught Me That No MBA Could

September 29, 2025
This Simple Change Made Us Improve Almost Overnight — and Became a Huge Competitive Advantage

This Simple Change Made Us Improve Almost Overnight — and Became a Huge Competitive Advantage

September 29, 2025
Master In-Demand Skills Without Outsourcing or Extra Costs With This  Learning Platform

Master In-Demand Skills Without Outsourcing or Extra Costs With This $20 Learning Platform

September 28, 2025
Save Time and Focus on Growing Your Business, Not Managing Emails With This  Service

Save Time and Focus on Growing Your Business, Not Managing Emails With This $40 Service

September 28, 2025

The EW prides itself on assembling a proficient and dedicated team comprising seasoned journalists and editors. This collective commitment drives us to provide our esteemed readership with nothing short of the most comprehensive, accurate, and captivating news coverage available.

Transcending the bounds of Chicago to encompass a broader scope, we ensure that our audience remains well-informed and engaged with the latest developments, both locally and beyond.

NEWS

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Entertainment
Instagram Facebook

© 2024 Entrepreneurs Weekly.  All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • CONTACT US
  • ADVERTISEMENT

Copyright © 2024 - The Entrepreneurs Weekly

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In