Two acai bowl retailers, each alike in wholesome treats, in honest Freshwater the place we lay our scene.
On Sydney’s picturesque northern seashores, a not-so-ancient grudge is taking part in out in public between rival shops as two small companies vie for dominance within the profitable commerce of the favored Brazilian dessert.
Tongues have been set wagging this week after an indication appeared within the window of Blessed Bowls on Lawrence Road in Freshwater, accusing a rival enterprise – Mr Gelato, situated a stone’s throw down the highway – of copying its menu, one thing Mr Gelato strongly denies.
“Pricey Blessed Bowls prospects, now we have been very dissatisfied to see an area enterprise take our complete menu, all objects, names and pricing and identically copy what now we have spent three years fastidiously crafting,” the discover mentioned.
“The enterprise has instantly copied and pasted our total menu with no alterations. That is very unhappy to see in such an important group. There isn’t any hurt in serving acai bowls nevertheless taking what an organization has uniquely crafted could be very disappointing to see. We’ve got no affiliation with Mr Gelato and we ask that our loyal prospects proceed to assist us.”
Certainly, the acai bowl menu at Mr Gelato does have various the identical objects with components listed word-for-word – though not all of them – together with its Biscoff Bowl Acai, Brownie Acai and Snickers Acai.
And Mr Gelato’s Peanut Butnana Acai seems to be a renamed model of Blessed Bowls’ Chunky Monkey Acai, additionally with word-for-word components.
However “the menu’s not the identical”, Mr Gelato’s proprietor insisted on Thursday.
“We’re not likely proud of what they did to us … it’s not honest,” he advised information.com.au.
“They’re accusing us of doing one thing improper however it’s not. Do I’ve to sue everybody doing hazelnut gelato, pistachio gelato? Acai is just not their model, acai is for everybody. We purchase the acai from Brazil, similar to everybody. They’re in opposition to us as a result of I feel they’re frightened about us.”
The proprietor, who didn’t need his identify used, mentioned he had not spoken to the proprietor of Blessed Bowls.
“I don’t [know her] and I don’t wish to communicate to her,” he mentioned.
“She’s accusing me of doing one thing however the market analysis she’s doing on my store … why is she all the time opening near me? She opened one in Collaroy (additionally on Sydney’s northern seashores) 50 metres from my store, why? They’re frightened about us as a result of we’ve acquired one of the best spot right here, they’re up the hill. That’s why.”
Blessed Bowls has seven shops and a meals truck alongside Sydney’s northern seashores.
Mr Gelato, which has two shops and has been on the Moore Highway location in Freshwater for six years, began providing acai bowls round three months in the past, in keeping with the proprietor.
However he pressured that his menu was extra in depth than Blessed Bowls, with extra choices and toppings.
“It’s not the identical, you possibly can verify … you possibly can see it’s not the identical, we’re doing a variety of acai, greater than them,” he mentioned.
“And the worth on my one is less expensive than them.”
An unique acai in dimension small sells for $12.50 at Blessed Bowls, whereas the identical dessert at Mr Gelato is $11.50.
“It’s not the identical and so they’re accusing me that I’m doing the identical as them, that isn’t true,” the proprietor mentioned.
“And it’s not honest as a result of everybody can promote acai. We’ve acquired the identical product that they’ve. We do it a distinct manner. They are saying we copy, they don’t. I’m not doing something improper. I’m promoting the identical product that everybody’s promoting. Everybody sells acai. We’ve got like 12 varieties of acai, she’s acquired simply six acai bowls. It’s not the identical, the worth is totally different. She doesn’t invent nothing.”
He added, “She’s doing advertising and marketing – you’re right here now. She does advertising and marketing for me. I may be well-known.”
Mr Gelato can also be contemplating authorized motion over the be aware, he revealed.
“We’re already with legal professionals, as a result of it’s unfair,” he mentioned. “I’ve been right here for six years. My enterprise could be very sturdy.”
The proprietor of Blessed Bowls was not on the Freshwater retailer on Thursday and didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Common prospects Troy Abraham, 41, and Caroline Bradley, 39, have been having fun with an acai bowl outdoors and discussing the discover, which went viral on social media earlier within the morning after being posted to Fb by the Manly Observer web page.
Branding it the “acai wars of Freshwater”, the Manly Observer famous it “could be the most northern seashores drama to unfold since reusable mugs did not correctly match e-bike espresso cup holders”.
“We’ve simply been speaking about it,” Ms Bradley mentioned.
Mr Abraham mentioned they have been “speculating as a result of they do gelato … we haven’t been there in ages, and it looks as if everybody’s coming right here now as a result of acai is the brand new fad, and so they’re in all probability pissed off and have been like, let’s simply get in on it”.
“I feel it’s a little bit of a fad in all probability, however it’s tasty,” Ms Bradley mentioned.
She added that Mr Gelato’s obvious copying of Blessed Bowls’ menu “makes me not wish to go there”.
Blessed Bowls, in keeping with Mr Abraham, was “tremendous” fashionable with locals.
“When college will get out it’s like all of the teenage ladies, that is their spot,” he mentioned.
