Perdue Farms has filed a lawsuit against Soules Foods over alleged packaging infringement tied to the "6 7" chicken nuggets meme phenomenon. The meat giant claims its competitor copied distinctive packaging designs that reference the viral internet culture popular among younger consumers.
The dispute centers on how Soules Foods markets its chicken nuggets using imagery and design elements that Perdue contends replicate its own branding strategy. Perdue built its packaging around a meme format that gained traction with children and teenagers, creating recognizable brand differentiation in a crowded poultry market. The company argues that Soules Foods deliberately borrowed these visual elements to capitalize on the meme's popularity without developing original packaging concepts.
This case reflects how food companies increasingly leverage internet culture and viral trends to capture consumer attention, particularly among Gen Z and younger millennial demographics. Meme-based marketing has become a legitimate competitive tool for major brands seeking authenticity and relatability. When executed successfully, these campaigns drive brand recognition and impulse purchases at retail. Perdue's investment in meme-adjacent packaging represents a calculated bet on cultural relevance as a product differentiator.
The outcome carries implications beyond the poultry aisle. If courts grant Perdue protection over meme-inspired packaging design, other food manufacturers may face restrictions on using similar cultural references. Conversely, if Soules Foods prevails, companies cannot easily monopolize viral trends through packaging alone. The ruling could reshape how consumer brands approach intellectual property claims tied to social media phenomena, where cultural ownership remains legally ambiguous.
Perdue operates as a privately held subsidiary of Perdue Incorporated, one of the largest poultry producers in the United States. Soules Foods competes in the same premium chicken segment. Both companies target retail channels including supermarkets and convenience stores where packaging design directly influences purchasing decisions.
The lawsuit underscores intensifying competition in the $30 billion U.S. poultry market. Differentiation through packaging aesthetics and meme-based marketing appeals increasingly determine shelf success as product quality converges across competitors. This legal action tests whether viral cultural moments constitute protectable intellectual property or remain in the public domain for any brand to leverage.