Kraft seeks injunction against Starbucks

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. food giant Kraft is seeking a court order to maintain a distribution contract with Starbucks Coffee Co., court papers show.

The Northfield, Ill., company is seeking a preliminary injunction against the Seattle company in the escalating contract feud, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.

Starbucks has said Kraft has taken advantage of the company by excluding it from distribution decisions to establish its own coffee brand.

But Kraft says its 12-year-old contract to distribute Starbucks is valid through 2014. Starbucks, in turn, says Kraft has not met goals spelled out in the contract and failed to include it in marketing decisions.

Starbucks has said it is interested in buying grocery brands and would expand its relationship with Acosta, which already distributes its instant coffee Via, The Guardian reported last week.