‘I will not be bullied’ – businessman takes on Ocado

Dr Kalibala says Ocado has offered him money to change his business name and branding but he has refused their offer

STANDING HIS GROUND: Dr Robert James Kalibala founder of Orgacado Ltd (Picture Credit: Supplied)

A BLACK-owned business could face legal action from a major food delivery company following copyright infringement claims.

Dr Robert James Kalibala founded a food import business called Orgacado Ltd in February 2018, which specialises in growing and importing organic large soft-skin Avocados and other tropical fruits and vegetables from parts of Africa into the United Kingdom.

Dr Kalibala says his business name means “organic Avocado” or “big Avocado” in Uganda and has nothing to do with the delivery company Ocado.

Speaking exclusively to The Voice, he said: “I came up with the name because my focus was the Avocado.

“With my native people and in Nigeria something big is called Oga, so I said let me call it Oga Avocado, meaning big Avocado or organic Avocado.

“So I got those two names to add them together to make Orgacado.”

Dr Kalibala successfully registered his business with Companies House and agricultural bodies like the Soil Association, but was not initially aware that he needed a trademark for his company name and logo – until he started receiving letters from Ocado two years ago.

He said: “They just wrote to me before and said ‘stop using our name, that is our name’ then I went on to check if the name belonged to them, when I went onto the Intellectual Property website to register the name, the name was still available.”

Dr Kalibala told The Voice, he attempted to trademark his company name and slogan – which was available on the register – but this was blocked.

He said: “I went to see if the exact trademark for Orgacado was still there or if it was under Ocado.

“But good enough, the name Orgacado was still there and was still available, so no one had that name.”

Dr Kalibala added that he has been told his logo, its colours and the design of his delivery van is also too similar.

BIG DEMAND: Orgacado’s popular big soft-skinned African Avocados (Picture Credit: Supplied)



The entrepreneur, who is originally from Uganda, in east Africa, claims he is still being blocked from registering his trademark and says he will not be “bullied” by the food delivery company.

He said: “Because they are a big company they are trying to scare me, they are using big law firms, just to intimate me to leave our name, but Orgacado and Ocado are completely different.”

The business owner says he feels he is being unfairly targeted by the delivery company.

He added: “There is another company called Avocado which is selling in London and owned by white people but they have never even approached them.

“But they see another black person coming out with something, what they will do is try to squeeze you out.”

Dr Kalibala insists his logo is based on the colours and shape of an avocado and the colour brown is to represent the rich soil in Africa where his products grow.

The entrepreneur studied Biochemistry at the University of Exeter and has a PhD in Medical Sciences, and imports passion fruits, mangoes, papaya, small bananas and Soursop and other fruits and vegetables under his import licence.

DEMAND: Dr Kalibala plans to expand his farms to Zimbabwe and Malawi to keep up with the growing demand for his produce (Picture Credit: Supplied)

He also revealed to The Voice, that the food delivery company has offered him money to change his name and branding, which he says he has refused.

“Ocado have nothing to do with Avocados, my name Oragcado comes from what I do as a big Avocado grower and supplier,” he explained.

The Voice, contacted Ocado for comment, who confirmed they have offered to meet the cost of any rebrand of Dr Kalibala’s business.

However, the CEO says there is something far bigger driving his fight.

He says this push back against the larger company is to stand up for himself and also all the small African farmers across the continent that he employs.

With farms and workers in Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania and plans to expand into Malawi and Zimbabwe, Dr Kalibala says he is here to stay.

He told The Voice, it is important for him to use his education to give back to his homeland and other parts of Africa by “fighting for a good cause” and ensuring his workers are paid a fair wage.

His other aim is to help “improve the health” of the black community in the UK and make sure his products are affordable for everyone.  

“This is not just about me, but the future of the motherland,” he said.

Food security

Dr Kalibala said the idea for his business came about while he was studying for his PhD in Medical Sciences and discovered there are plans to have more “seedless” and genetically modified organisms (GMO) grown in Africa.

He said: “It started with corn, then it went onto tomatoes, grapes and now they are moving on to mangoes and avocados.”

Dr Kalibala said the move to start introducing “seedless avocados” left him very concerned and believes his business is a way to combat the transition to GMO foods and create food security.

“There is no way someone will cut a tree where they are getting an income from it,” he added.

FOOD SECURITY: Dr Kalibala employs farm workers in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and other African countries (Picture Credit: Supplied)

He says what his business is doing is preserving Africa’s original and native food, while being kind to the environment.

With the belief that traditional African foods are being “phased out” so that seedless varieties can be brought in, he says this would result in just a few companies having control over the food production.

Dr Kalibala said he didn’t want this to happen and decided to use his knowledge and connections to help and that is why he formed his company Orgacado.

He added: “Back home people are telling them to plant Bamboo, but what can they get from bamboo? they can’t eat bamboo, so the solution is about the protecting the food.”

“I decided to look for the market for these avocados, as they were not on the market, if I look for the market globally the farmers will continue growing them,” he said.

He first started selling the Avocados to his fellow PhD students and then was able to get his products into several of the leading organic food stores across the UK.

Community

Dr Kalibala also delivers direct to customers, who order from him and plans to develop an app to keep up with the growing demand.

Driven by his community and the vulnerable people he supports, Dr Kalibala says he will not back down without a fight.

He is calling on the community for support to send a message that black-owned businesses will no longer be pushed out.

He said: “I’ve sacrificed everything that I have just for this to still be going.

“I’ve just celebrated five years in the business and I am, not planning just to close like that.

“I import, I grow my own stuff, they just pick from one shop to another and then they give you, but they want to come for me – that is completely unfair.”

Dr Kalibala is also urging all African countries to create a seed bank to protect the continent’s food supply.

An Ocado spokesperson said: “There is no legal action underway and the issue of Orgacado registering its trademark is being addressed and considered by the Intellectual Property Office.
“We will always defend our brand and do everything we can to make sure our customers are not confused or misled.” 

Comments Form

14 Comments

  1. | Rachel

    This man doesn’t understand how trademarks work

    Reply

    • | Jane

      He clearly doesn’t understand trade mark law, big businesses don’t “attack” small businesses, they protect their brands that their business success is built on

      Reply

    • | Khalilah

      Keep fighting my brother . There is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s GREED.
      You name is original with an African meaning. Supporting you all the way.

      Reply

  2. | Ma Rich

    You have the right to choose a name fitting to the rich organic produce that you grow. Your name is nothing like theirs without meaning. These larger companies becomes afraid when shoppers are changing from GMO to more naturally grown foods, so they try to discredit and scare the small man coming up by using bully boy tactics.
    Get Up Stand Up, Stand up For Your Rights, Don’t Give Up The Fight.

    Reply

  3. | Chaka Artwell

    What a delightful and inspiring report, about an authentic African young man; using his wisdom to assist the farmers of his native Uganda.
    It is great to read of an inspiring story, from a Ugandan entrepreneur.

    Reply

  4. | Angella Angie

    Just stay focused and don’t pay attention to those PHD givers(Pull him /Her down) Your name being a catch makes them feel insecure. keep up the good work we love your business.

    Reply

  5. | Haydon Hughes

    Bro finna bring home that W

    Reply

  6. | X Smith

    Good for him. I’ll buy his produce

    Reply

  7. | Roseleen

    Son we are happy and healthy for your produce go on

    Reply

  8. | Philip Casson

    Don’t let them bully you brother.

    Reply

  9. | Duncan

    ORGACADO sounds like its organic ocado to me – if they are going to pay for a rebrand I would take the money and save a lot of hassle when it sounds like they will win – you can still do what you are doing for the local farmers just using a name that doesn’t sound like someone elses!

    Reply

  10. | Yg

    This man is a fraud who used to defraud students at the University of Exeter where he used to do his PhD. Don’t fall for his rubbish

    Reply

    • | Flint Toon

      This man has defrauded struggling small start-up companies owned by fellow Africans in the UK. Maybe it is that karma following him

      Reply

  11. | Lee W5

    Dont give up the fight brother. I congatulate you in keeping seeded farms going. Deffo will be purchasing from your store. 👏👏

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Support The Voice

The Voice Newspaper is committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your financial contributions are essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.

Support Sign-up