"midwest" news and stories

A woman in Michigan has created a line of flavored candy plates meant to be broken at wedding ceremonies, celebrations or if you're just pissed off. Judy Cerano, 57, debuted her Sweet Madness Plate to Break line this month at a candy store in White Lake, Michigan, according to an AP story in the Lansing State Journal. Flavors include banana cream, mint, root beer, piña colada, wintergreen and cherry. Each plate sells for around $10.

Starbucks has a canned espresso drink called the DoubleShot, which is a sweetened blend of cream and espresso. There is also a coffee shop and roastery in Tulsa, Oklahoma called the DoubleShot Coffee Company. Starbucks is suing the midwestern coffee company for trademark violations over the use of the name "doubleshot."

According to the blog Whiskey Wednesday, which has spoken with the owner of the DoubleShot Coffee Co., Starbucks trademarked the term back in 2001, around the time of the release of their canned beverage. Their lawyers have advised the roastery to desist from using the name, but the owner of the Tulsa-based shop stands firm behind his use of the term, explaining "Doubleshot is a generic industry term for two shots of espresso. They have no exclusive rights to it." If the case goes forward, a judge will end up deciding who, if anyone, has the rights to the term.

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