Acushnet, the world’s biggest golf equipment company, whose brands include Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra, has once again co-operated with the authorities to expedite another clampdown on counterfeiters.
Officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, assisted by officers from divisions of Chapeltown and Killingbeck police, have carried out a series of raids on properties in the Leeds area in the fight against the sale of counterfeit golfing products. The items seized have a street value of £100,000.
Information received led officers to several residential properties on the outskirts of Leeds and to a seizure of counterfeit golf clubs and other golf equipment. These clubs alone would have a street value of £20,000 and consisted of household names including Titleist and other market leaders, as well as apparel from several premium golf brands. The seizure is one of the largest within West Yorkshire and will curtail the selling of illegal golf products. Several individuals were arrested.
Martin Wood, chief officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service said, “Counterfeiters will trade in the full spectrum of goods. The sale of counterfeit golf clubs and equipment shows the extent of criminality these individuals will go to in ensuring they obtain maximum profit.”
Acushnet once again played its part in the successful raid and Gary Miller, vice president for Acushnet Europe, added, “We will vigorously protect the integrity of our brand and the value of our products. We applaud the swift actions of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and the police. These illegal operators are seeing that there are bigger risks than profits in the counterfeit trade.”
The successful raid in Leeds follows two seizures of counterfeit FootJoy gloves and Titleist Pro V1s in the north west earlier this year. In both instances the goods were destroyed, resulting in substantial financial losses for the perpetrators.
In the US Acushnet recently filed suits in Federal courts against retailers and wholesalers dealing in counterfeit Pro V1 golf balls. This continued action from Acushnet, other leading golf manufacturers and the authorities highlights their growing intolerance with counterfeiters regardless of the size, type or location of operation.
Cobra www.cobragolf.co.uk
FootJoy (UK) Ltd www.footjoy.co.uk
Pinnacle www.pinnaclegolf.com
Titleist www.titleist.co.uk
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