ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Oprah Winfrey may be adding a chef’s cap to her collection of talk show tiaras. On May 19, Ms. Winfrey filed a request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark myriad culinary products branded under “Oprah’s Kitchen,” extending her reach into the realm of food and beverages.
Ms. Winfrey is not exactly moving into uncharted territory. From regularly featuring recipes in her magazine, to spotlighting a variety of food products on her annual “Favorite Things” list, Ms. Winfrey has become quite at home in the “foodie” world.
In October 2015, Ms. Winfrey acquired a 10% stake in Weight Watchers International, with options to purchase 5% more. Ms. Winfrey developed a strong belief in the program after it helped her overcome her own weight issues. Whether Oprah’s Kitchen is in any way tied to her stake in Weight Watchers has yet to be revealed.
Earlier, in 2014, Ms. Winfrey partnered with Starbucks Corp. to create Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, the proceeds of which benefitted the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation.
In 2012, she filed to trademark brands such as “Oprah’s Organics,” “Oprah’s Harvest,” and “Oprah’s Farm.” The brands carried products such as organic salad dressings, soups and frozen vegetables and distributed them from her farm in Maui throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Oprah’s Kitchen likely will extend to a larger consumer base and may allow Ms. Winfrey to sell hundreds of diverse products. Spices, almonds, fresh produce, processed and preserved foods, beer, energy drinks, cut flowers, and bacon are just a sampling of what may be found under the Oprah’s Kitchen brand, according to the trademark filing.
