Finding itself with money on both sides of a US trademark case (as detailed in Mānuka Charitable Trust Scores Own Goal in Trademark Attack on Comvita Mānuka Honey Cosmetics), Comvita Ltd. has formally requested that Mānuka Charitable Trust (MCT) withdraws their opposition to the Caravan Honey Co. application. However, MCT has confirmed they will be following their process, claiming the integrity of New Zealand’s mānuka honey is at stake.

Mānuka Charitable Trust (MCT) has upended a four-year Comvita marketing effort in the US by opposing “THE MĀNUKA EFFECT” trademark application. A suite of Comvita mānuka honey cosmetics is sold under that pending trademark. A joint venture between Comvita and Hollywood A-lister-linked Caravan Digital sponsored the creation of the cosmetics. MCT failed to see the New Zealand connection. Bruce Roscoe reports.

Comvita’s shareholders have denied the wishes of both their board and biggest shareholders to vote down the takeover bid of Florenz and one of New Zealand’s wealthiest people, Mark Stewart, in a decision that pushes New Zealand’s largest honey company closer to receivership.

As the group tasked with protecting mānuka honey from offshore exploitation continues its work, a Mānuka Charitable Trust Symposium to reaffirm their position was held on September 26.