Chrissy Teigen has been branded ‘The Faker’ after she was accused by a Kiwi baker known as The Caker of defrauding the packaging designs of her new baking mixes.
Jordan Rondel, owner of The Caker, made the accusation this week — a month after the pair launched a collaboration for a spiced carrot cake mix, which also featured the star’s husband John Legend.
Rondel – originally from New Zealand but now based in Los Angeles – said she was “shocked” to see that Teigen’s brand packaging was remarkably similar to her own.
“Even her little story section where I describe where I have my story and then sign it off with my signature, and then the way she describes what you need and what you get is the same,” she said. stuff.co.nz.
“I think they got a lot of inspiration from us, I did. Let’s just say I feel like I got some heavy inspiration.
“We’re a little pinprick of a brand here and we’ve invested everything in building a brand… But now I think, dammit, some of that market is taken by someone else and we’re just being pushed aside. ‘
Fans of The Caker have now branded Teigen ‘The Faker’, with one supporter saying, ‘It’s clearly a direct rip off of your designs. She sucks.’
A spokeswoman for Teigen’s Cravings strenuously denied the claims when approached by DailyMail.com.
Jordan Rondel, aka The Caker, has accused pregnant brand Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings of stealing its “elevated baking mixes” after the two launched a partnership in September.
Rondel said she knew Teigen was launching a cake mix, but was reassured that the creation would be a completely different product. IMAGE: The Caker’s packaging (left) compared to Cravings’ packaging (right)
The Caker claims that the designs on the two boxes are very similar, despite Teigen’s team’s reassurance that they wouldn’t. SHOWN: Rondel’s design (left) and Teigen’s design (right)
Rondel said she knew Teigen was launching a cake mix, but was reassured that the creation would be a completely different product.
However, she was shocked to see the new boxes launched by Cravings, both featuring bold photography on a white background with one hand interacting with the final project.
The model and TV personality launched her mixes on October 20, which includes Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread Mix, Buttermilk Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix, and Salted White Chocolate Macadamia Cookie Mix.
Rondel has not taken legal action against Teigen due to financial constraints.
She also claimed that Cravings tried to cooperate, saying that they had already “found a new equity partner and they had no control over it.”
Rondel acknowledged she “didn’t invent the concept of a cake mix,” which sells for $25, but said she’s worked hard to conquer a niche with a “luxury, elevated cake mix.”
“I find it hard to believe she’s not getting a say in her own product line,” she told Stuff.
“Of course, if she’s not involved at all, this is a slightly different story, but I find that hard to believe… There’s so much similarity it’s crazy.”
She first posted about her concerns on her Instagram, posting a comparison of the designs to her 64,000 followers.
Rondel acknowledged she “didn’t invent the concept of a cake mix,” which sells for $25, but said she’s worked hard to conquer a niche with a “luxury, elevated cake mix.” But she said the similarities between her own brand’s packaging and Teign’s were “crazy”
Teigen started developing her own food products after launching her mini-food empire under the Cravings brand since 2016. She collaborated on a spiced carrot cake mix with The Caker last month, in a campaign that also featured husband John Legend.
Rondel was “shocked” to see Teigen’s brand, which retails for between $7 and $10, launching their new line that she says bears a strong resemblance to hers.
A Cravings spokeswoman strenuously denied the claims about the baking mixes, telling DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘We are so proud of the now sold-out Cravings x The Caker Spiced Carrot Cake Kit with Salted Caramel.
“It’s discouraging and surprising to see The Caker’s recent social posts and comments about our products.
“In May 2022, the Caker team was fully advised that Cravings would be launching a line of baking mixes in the fall following our one-time partnership.
“The Caker chose to continue with the carrot cake collaboration and out of respect for the collaboration, Cravings delayed the production of a cake mix and launched banana bread, pancakes and cookie mixes on October 20.”
Rondel’s followers were quick to beat Teigen after she placed the two boxes side by side – with one calling her ‘the Faker’
The Cravings spokesperson added: “We have absolutely not copied their packaging. Below are the actual side by side images of our respective boxes.
‘Images posted to social media by the Caker team compared the front of our box and the back of their own.
“The front of their packaging is different from the photographic approach we’ve taken, where their design tends to be a solid, bold color, which is basically a cover rather than the traditional box style we’ve been using.
‘We wish nothing but the very best for The Caker and their company, that was the spirit behind our collaboration and transparent communication.’
Teigen started developing her own food products after launching her mini food empire under the Cravings brand since 2016.
The model shares her love of food and recipes with her 38 million Instagram followers and has a food blog, family cooking videos and an online store.
She previously shared the tag The Caker in an Instagram story in February, praising Rondel’s flourless cake with dark chocolate gold leaf and posting a photo of it half eaten.
The pair teamed up after Rondel replied to Teigen to thank her and made her the offer remotely.
Rondel’s followers were quick to beat Teigen after she placed the two boxes side by side.
One called her ‘The Faker’, before adding ‘It’s obviously a direct rip off of your designs. She sucks.’
Another said: ‘This really is so s*** and shameful of her! Your pie packs and business are 1000x better than hers. You’re the queen of pies and the real OG.’
Some even took to the Cravings Instagram account with comments, writing: Didn’t you just promote a collaboration on a similar product with an independent, female company?
A second said, “Everything you collaborate on somehow becomes your own business opportunity to exploit and take advantage of. Hurrah! How positively embarrassing.’
Rondel representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.