Aurelio's Files Infringement Lawsuit Against Franchise Operator

filed a federal lawsuit last Thursday against one of its franchise operators, Joseph Pascale (PFC of Illinois Inc.) and food manufacturer Teresa Food Inc. to stop their intentional counterfeiting and infringement of federally registered trademarks.

Earlier this month, learned Mr. Pascale had contracted with Teresa Food to illegally machine-manufacture uncooked, frozen pizzas with subpar, unauthorized ingredients. These pizzas were then wrongfully sold as at wholesale to the girls’ field hockey team as a fundraiser.

After investigation, has reason to believe this is not an isolated incident and that this type of activity with this particular franchise operator has been happening for at least six years.

is seeking immediate injunctive relief to protect its trademarks, as well as various actual, statutory, and enhanced damages.

Director of Franchising Kirk Mauriello spoke on behalf of :

"Aurelio’s stands for quality and value. It’s who we are at our core. From the ingredients that go into our products, to the handmade way we always make every pizza that carries the Aurelio’s name, our brand is our promise to our customers—our family. For 52 years, our customers have come to trust that Aurelio’s pizza means high quality ingredients with a special taste they recognize and love, handmade in the way Aurelio’s prescribes—every pizza, every single time. Not sometimes or in some locations. Every time, across the board. We are deeply saddened, hurt and extremely disappointed that Mr. Pascale broke this promise to consumers and did it in our name. We send our heartfelt apology to every single customer who bought one of these pizzas thinking it was Aurelio’s because the pizzas they received were not what they thought they were buying. Our customers are our family. For half a century they have trusted us and we won’t let them down. It goes against everything we are. If we find out someone else is trying to mislead them using our name, we will take swift action, as we have done with Mr. Pascale, to stop it."

intends to reconcile with the  girls’ field hockey team by hosting a pizza party for them at the . In addition, plans to donate a percentage of its profits to the team on an upcoming designated night to help them raise funds.