Extensive legal battles are currently unfolding involving the inheritance and trademarks associated with the “B. Yu. Alexandrov” cheese curd brand, once a prominent name in the Russian dairy market. These disputes arose following the death of the brand’s founder, Boris Alexandrov, and involve his family, business partners, and the company he established, “Rostagrokompleks.”

The core of the conflict revolves around the rights to the “B. Yu. Alexandrov” trademark, which was transferred to Alexandrov’s daughter, Ekaterina, shortly before his death. Ekaterina has filed lawsuits against Rostagrokompleks, alleging the company continued to use the brand illegally after license agreements were terminated, seeking billions of rubles in damages.

Adding another layer of complexity, Alexandrov’s other daughter, Natalya Kokota, has challenged the validity of the trademark transfer agreement, claiming her father was incapacitated when the document was signed. This legal challenge further jeopardizes the future of the brand and its association with Rostagrokompleks.

Beyond the trademark dispute, a corporate conflict emerged between Alexandrov’s former business partner, Yuri Izachik, and the top managers of Rostagrokompleks. Izachik initially donated a significant portion of his shares to these managers but later attempted to challenge the transaction, alleging he was misled about the company’s financial situation. This dispute led to criminal charges and Izachik’s exclusion from the company’s founders.

The legal battles have had a direct impact on consumers, as the “B. Yu. Alexandrov” cheese curds are no longer produced under that name. Rostagrokompleks has rebranded its products under the names Rostagroexport and Rostagrokompleks, a move that industry experts believe could lead to a decline in sales and require significant investment in promoting the new trademarks.

Despite the controversies, Rostagrokompleks has continued to operate and has shown financial growth in recent years. While one associated company, Rostagroexport, was liquidated, Rostagrokompleks and other related entities have reported increased revenues and profits since Alexandrov’s death. The future of the brand and the company remains uncertain as the legal disputes continue to play out in the courts.