Mondelēz Sues Joyride Over Sour Patch Kids Copycat

Joliet residents who shop at Target or Walmart may soon see changes on the candy aisle after a major legal battle began Monday in the Northern District of Illinois. Mondelez Global, the West Loop-based owner of Sour Patch Kids, filed a lawsuit against Joyride, a Texas-based candy company. The complaint alleges that Joyride is copying the look of Mondelez's popular gummy candies and its distinct packaging.

Mondelez described Joyride as a well-funded, private equity-backed entity that decided to steal the Sour Patch Kids aesthetic. The company stated that Joyride dared Mondelez to take action. In April 2025, Joyride launched Sour Smacks, a line of brightly colored chewy candies shaped like grinning people. The new product uses yellow and green packaging, which Mondelez says is identical to its own iconic design.

The lawsuit points to a social media strategy by Joyride that began in January 2025. Ryan Trahan, the 28-year-old co-owner and chief creative officer of Joyride, posted on Instagram about his plan to make Joyride the most followed candy brand on the platform. At the time, the official Sour Patch Kids account held that title. Trahan, who also has a YouTube channel with more than 24 million subscribers, aimed to usurp and surpass Sour Patch Kids popularity.

According to the complaint, the strategy worked. Joyride's posts went viral, gaining over 300,000 followers. The lawsuit notes that other major retail brands began commenting on Joyride's posts. Mondelez argues that this online association helped Joyride raise $30 million in private equity funding in a May 2025 securities filing. That valuation placed Joyride at approximately $100 million.

Joyride was originally founded in 2008 as Project 7. The company rebranded to Joyride in 2022 and hired Trahan. The lawsuit states that Joyride's earlier sour candy products from 2020 and 2022 had different names, shapes, and packaging. The legal team argues that the shift in design coincided with the company's push to associate itself with Sour Patch Kids. Both products are often sold on the same shelves at major retailers.

Neither Mondelez nor Joyride responded to requests for comment following the filing. Mondelez is seeking permanent injunctive relief to stop the sale of Sour Smacks. The company is also asking for monetary damages to cover its financial losses from the alleged copying.

The case is currently pending in the Northern District of Illinois. Mondelez will argue in court that Joyride's design infringes on its established brand identity. Joyride will defend its product choices and marketing strategy.