UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): September 18, 2026
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Item 8.01 Other Events
As previously reported by Beyond Meat, Inc. (the "Company") in its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2026 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 6, 2026, a trademark infringement complaint for injunctive and other relief was filed against the Company in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division on April 28, 2022, captioned Sonate Corporation, d/b/a Vegadelphia Foods (“Sonate”) v. Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. (collectively, “Dunkin”) and Beyond Meat, Inc., et al., Case No. 6:22-cv-00812. A First Amended Complaint was filed On May 17, 2022 (the “FAC”). The FAC alleged that the Company and Dunkin’s use of the tagline “Great Taste Plant-Based,” infringed on Sonate’s registered trademark WHERE GREAT TASTE IS PLANT-BASED® (“Sonate’s trademark”). Additionally, Sonate alleged that the Company’s use of the tagline “Plant-Based Great Taste” in connection with its own sales of products also infringed on Sonate’s trademark. The FAC sought injunctive relief and a monetary award for corrective advertising, a reasonable royalty award, damages representing Sonate’s lost sales and the Company’s profits generated by the alleged likelihood of confusion, interest, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees.
A jury trial commenced on November 10, 2025 and concluded on November 24, 2025. On November 24, 2025, the jury returned its verdict finding that the Company was liable for trademark infringement and that the fair use defense did not apply. The jury awarded damages against the Company as follows: $23.5 million in actual damages and $15.4 million in disgorgement of the Company’s profits. Subsequent to the jury’s verdict, the Company filed a motion seeking to reduce or eliminate the amount awarded by the jury. Sonate filed motions seeking prejudgment interest, and an increase in the disgorgement award.
On September 18, 2026, the Court ruled on the Company’s and Sonate’s post-trial motions. The Court denied Sonate’s motions seeking prejudgment interest and an increase in the disgorgement award. The Court granted the Company’s motion in part, and denied it in part. The Court reduced the jury award of actual damages from $23.5 million to $37,500, and accepted the jury’s finding of $15.4 million in disgorgement of the Company’s profits. On September 18. 2026, the Court also entered judgment against the Company in the amount of $15,437,500, comprised of $37,500 of actual damages, and $15.4 million in disgorgement of the Company’s profits. The Company or Sonate may pursue further motion practice and/or appeals related to the judgment.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| BEYOND MEAT, INC. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Lubi Kutua | ||||
Lubi Kutua | |||||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||||
Date: September 22, 2026