Germany's Red Dot Design Award- 2019 Germany's iF Design Award- 2020 Social Contribution The company donates Pepero to needy neighbors and social organizations. With its record sales and profits, Lotte contributes to establish the local children’s center. Criticism Pepero has been criticized for copying Pocky, which has been manufactured by Japan's Ezaki Glico Company since 1966. Lotte denies that it was inspired by the product. The Pocky product was introduced over 17 years before in the market. Ezaki Glico’s Pocky and Lotte Confectionery’s Pepero have a long history and known as rival companies in chocolate-covered stick (pretzel). Since the content of Pocky and Pepero is the same, it is difficult to distinguish the difference between the two products. Ezaki Glico filed a lawsuit against Lotte Confectionery about the trademark, and the shape of the originality of Pocky since Pocky has entered the United States market before Lotte Confectionery’s Pepero. Lotte Confectionery could design partially chocolate-based snacks in a different shape from Pocky. However, the court saw that only this factor could not offset the functionality of Pocky's design. Lotte Confectionery Corporation won the case because the judge concluded that Pocky’s product appearance cannot be protected by trade dress due to its functionality. In 2014, Glico sued Lotte which allegedly copied packaging box design of Glico's Baton d'or exclusive series of Pocky and Pretz for Lotte's new product Premier Pepero. On 14 August 2015, Seoul district court ruled that Lotte stole the box design of Glico's products and the ruling is expected to force Lotte to halt its sales of the product and dispose of the existing stock. On July 10, 2015, Glico filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court against Lotte USA for infringing on the trademarks of Pocky. Glico had registered the Pocky's three-dimensional trademarks prior to the launch of Pepero in the U.S. Pepero Day The date is set to November 11, annually. Farmer’s Day is also held in November 11 and referred it as a Garae Tteok Day. Pepero Day was derived from a middle school girl student in Yeongnam district of South Korea. They exchanged Pepero by saying “Let’s be tall and skinny” with well-wishing remarks. Nowadays, couples make Pepero or purchase it from the market in exchange with their gratitude to convey affection. As Pepero day comes to date, the sales of manufacturing companies drastically increase. References External links Lotte Confectinery Pepero Official Site