🥩 Nice Class 29: Food Products
The EUIPO register holds 150,671 trademarks in Class 29, the class for meat, fish, dairy products and preserved foods (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
150,671
Marks in the EU register
88,642
Registered with the EUIPO
-2 %
Growth 2020–2024
43 %
Word mark share
Class 29 is one of the two big food classes: it covers meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, edible oils, and preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables. The EUIPO register holds 150,671 trademarks in Class 29, of which 88,642 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). Unlike most large classes, it has stopped growing: new registrations slipped from 6,892 in 2020 to 6,773 in 2024, a 2 percent decline, with 6,470 added in 2025. The list of top filers reads like a walk down the supermarket aisle: Nestlé leads with 706 trademarks, followed by Mars (531), Lidl (440), Barilla (433) and crisps group Intersnack (354). The type of mark is even more telling: only 43 percent of trademarks in Class 29 are word marks, one of the lowest shares among the classes analysed. Food brands love logos, because on a package it is the design that sells, and that is exactly where the biggest protection trap in this class lies.
What belongs in Class 29?
Class 29 covers processed and preserved foods: meat, fish, poultry and game, sausages, preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables, jams and fruit spreads, eggs, milk and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, edible oils and fats, and snacks like potato crisps. The key distinctions: coffee, bread, pastries, chocolate and sauces belong in Class 30, fresh fruit and vegetables in Class 31, and beverages in Class 32. And if you serve your food in your own venue, that service needs Class 43.
Typical examples: Meat, fish, dairy, preserved fruit
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 29
Most active applicants in Class 29
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Société Des Produits Nestlé Sa | 706 |
| 2 | Mars Incorporated | 531 |
| 3 | Lidl Stiftung & Co Kg | 440 |
| 4 | Barilla G E R Fratelli - Societá Per Azioni | 433 |
| 5 | Intersnack Group Gmbh & Co Kg | 354 |
| 6 | Pepsico Inc | 300 |
| 7 | Frieslandcampina Nederland Bv | 295 |
| 8 | Cafea Gmbh | 262 |
| 9 | Bahlsen Gmbh & Co Kg | 235 |
| 10 | Molkerei Alois Müller Gmbh & Co Kg | 232 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Class 29 is rarely filed alone: in practice it is most often combined with Class 30 (coffee, baked goods, confectionery), Class 32 (juices and other beverages) and Class 31 (fresh, unprocessed produce). A food startup selling spreads, granola and juice needs 29, 30 and 32, for example. Also check whether your name works as a word mark instead of relying on the label alone, because a word mark survives every packaging relaunch. And search the register carefully before filing: Class 29 is home to Nestlé, Mars and Lidl, filers nobody wants to collide with.
Common mistakes with Class 29
The most typical mistake with food brands: protecting only the packaging logo. Since just 43 percent of trademarks in Class 29 are word marks, many founders register only their combined word and figurative mark, but its protection covers that specific design. Food packaging gets reworked all the time, and after a redesign the protection can miss the mark. Second mistake: drawing the line to Class 30 in the wrong place. It runs straight through a typical product range: jam falls under 29, honey under 30, potato crisps under 29, chocolate bars under 30. File only one of the two and half your shelf may go unprotected. Third, many forget distribution: your own shop or online store touches Class 35, your own café Class 43.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 29, and what goes in Class 30?
Class 29 covers meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, edible oils and preserved fruits and vegetables, including jams and potato crisps. Class 30, by contrast, covers coffee, tea, flour, bread, pastries, chocolate and sauces. The line runs straight through a typical product range, which is why many food brands need both classes.
Is protecting my packaging design as a trademark enough?
Usually not. Only 43 percent of trademarks in Class 29 are word marks, one of the lowest shares among the classes analysed, so many food founders protect only their label. That protection is tied to the specific design, though. If your product name is distinctive, an additional word mark secures it in any spelling and survives every packaging relaunch.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 29?
Most often Class 30 for coffee, baked goods and confectionery, Class 32 for juices and other beverages, and Class 31 for fresh, unprocessed produce. If you sell through your own shop or serve food in your own café, Class 35 and Class 43 are worth considering as well.
Who files the most trademarks in Class 29?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), Nestlé leads with 706 trademarks, ahead of Mars (531), Lidl (440), Barilla (433) and Intersnack (354). The register holds 150,671 Class 29 trademarks in total, with new registrations easing from 6,892 in 2020 to 6,773 in 2024 and 6,470 in 2025.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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