Red Bull Trademark Suit Targets Distributor ‘Gray Market’ Sales

Red Bull GmbH sued a New Jersey-based distributor of selling substantial quantities of Red Bull meant for foreign markets to US wholesalers.

Union City Beverage Inc. imports, markets, and sells Red Bull specifically made for countries including Turkey and South Africa, the complaint in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey said. Union City sold more than 1,200 cases to a wholesaler in New Jersey in November 2021 and has continued to sell the unlicensed energy drinks since, it said.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, targets what’s known as “gray market” goods, or genuine licensed goods sold through ...