FTD Sues Rival, Alleges Misleading Advertising
From Associated Press
FTD Group Inc. said it sued the owner of rival flower delivery service ProFlowers in U.S. District Court in Chicago, denouncing as false and misleading its advertisements claiming that flowers are shipped “direct from the fields.”
The lawsuit alleges that San Diego-based Provide Commerce Inc. misleads consumers by stating that its flowers bypass middlemen, extended stays in refrigerators and warehouses. In fact, FTD said, the flowers are stored in half a dozen refrigerated warehouses around the country and kept in inventory, meaning they are not cut to order as ProFlowers’ ads claim.
Provide Commerce did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.
