French confectioners fear Chinese copycat after names trademarked on mainland
Makers of calissons, the marzipan treats from southern France, are concerned that a Chinese company has registered “Calissons d’Aix” and “Kalisong”, although firm insists its intentions are good
They are one of southern France’s favourite treats. But the traditional almond calisson sweets from Aix-en-Provence may be about to get an unwanted Chinese makeover.
Connoisseurs of French sweets are concerned that a businessman in the eastern province of Zhejiang has registered the trademarks “Calissons d’Aix” and “Kalisong”, a distinctly Chinese rendering of the famous marzipan-like confectionery.
With such sweet French patisserie treats as macarons becoming fashionable in China, the makers of real French calissons fear they could be about to lose a potentially lucrative slice of the Chinese market.
“No calissons have yet been produced in China to our knowledge,” says Laure Pierrisnard, boss of the biggest French maker, Roy René.
But the trade body she heads has already launched a legal challenge to the brand in China, where the businessman Ye Chunlin now holds the rights to the name until 2026.