An Arizona vegan food truck owner will fight against Panda Express after the fast food chain challenged her trademark.
Chef Krystal Mack is the owner of Trash Panda Vegan, a truck located in South Phoenix that she started during the COVID-19 pandemic. She prides herself on serving plant-based comfort food to her community, like burgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese, wings, and salads.
Months after Mack filed a trademark for her business in 2022, she learned that Panda Express, which serves American-Chinese food, claimed that her logo and name are close to their brand, 12 News reported. Both logos include a panda, but Mack’s is more of a cartoon eating out of the trash and holding a burger.
“Never one time has anybody ever asked for orange chicken or beef and broccoli,” Mack told the outlet, adding, “It’s heartbreaking. I’ve never been punched in the gut, but I feel like that’s what it would be.”
Panda Restaurant Group Inc, the parent company to the restaurant, raised concerns that the similarities could result in “harm” to their company, according to the Arizona Republic.