San Diego
A preliminary injunction prohibits Vons Companies, owner of the supermarket chain, from false or misleading advertising pending the trial of a lawsuit filed last November, according to the San Diego city attorney’s consumer fraud office.
The injunction, issued Tuesday by Superior Court Judge William Pate in a November unfair competition lawsuit, cited advertisements in which the state’s largest supermarket chain said it was the winner of the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) food price survey. In fact, Vons finished in second place.
The injunction prohibits the Michigan-based company from using the same or similar advertising tactics in future CALPIRG surveys.
Pate also accepted Vons’ commitment to stop using the term “unlimited” when advertising its double coupon policy. Vons has always employed restrictions in its coupon redemption program, including a limit on the actual number of like-item coupons doubled and a limit on the maximum face value of a coupon, the report stated.
“To advertise that a particular sales promotion is ‘unlimited,’ and in the same breath declare limitations on the number, value and type of sales to which it applies, is simply false and therefore expressly unlawful under California law,” said City Atty. John Witt in the report.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, civil penalties and costs.
A Vons spokesman could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
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