Rick Stein is mocked online after accusing Sainsbury’s of stealing his design for a blue and white plate
- The celebrity TV chef went as far as to question the supermarket’s ‘integrity’
- He posted Sainsbury’s Coastline plates beside his own Coves of Cornwall range
- One person quipped: ‘Their blue bit is on the bottom, yours is on top’
Rick Stein has been mercilessly ribbed online for accusing Sainsbury’s of copying his blue and white plate.
The TV chef went as far as to question the supermarket’s ‘integrity’ and revealed he had contacted the company’s lawyers over the alleged plagiarism.
He posted a picture of Sainsbury’s Coastline plates beside his own Coves of Cornwall range, which both feature a deep blue wavy design.
But rather than rallying round the restaurateur, social media mocked him for crying plagiarism, with one person tweeting: ‘Their blue bit is on the bottom, yours is on top.’
Rick Stein went as far as to question the supermarket’s ‘integrity’ and revealed he had contacted the company’s lawyers over the alleged plagiarism
Stein, 73, this week announced that two of his restaurants would not be reopening after lockdown
Stein was mercilessly ribbed online for accusing Sainsbury’s of copying his blue and white plate
Stein, 73, this morning tweeted: ‘I thought Sainsbury’s had integrity, so a shock to see their summer tableware called Coastline.
‘Surely a copy of my Coves of Cornwall? “Absolutely not” said their solicitors.
‘My Coves was designed by Falmouth Art students 4 years ago. Sainsbury’s a coincidence do you think?’
It provoked a hilarious reaction from people who raised eyebrows over whether someone should have ownership of the simple blue and white design.
Johnny Sharples, posted a picture of the Blackburn Rovers FC blue and white strip and said: ‘I thought Blackburn Rovers had integrity, so a shock to see their 2019/20 kit.
‘Surely a copy of your Coves of Cornwall? “Absolutely not” said Umbro. Your Coves was designed by Falmouth Art students 4 years ago. Blackburn Rovers a coincidence what do you think?’
It provoked a hilarious reaction from people who raised eyebrows over whether someone should have ownership of the simple blue and white design
One person tweeted a quick sketch of a woman and tweeted: ‘Rick, to illustrate how similar those two plates are I’ve just reproduced the Mona Lisa.’
Neil Jarman quipped: ‘Are your plates upside down Rick,’ while another joked: ‘It’s a blue and white plate Rick.’
On his website, Stein advertises a set of four Coves of Cornwall plates for £57, whereas four Coastline dishes can be bought for less than £8 in Sainsbury’s.
Sainsbury’s did not immediately reply to MailOnline’s request for comment.
Stein this week announced that two of his restaurants would not be reopening after lockdown.
The restaurants in Marlborough, Wiltshire, and Porthleven, Cornwall, will now be permanently closed, he said in a statement.
