Groupe Danone said it filed a lawsuit in the United States Monday against two companies and two individuals it believes are violating a non-compete clause in China, the Wall Street Journal reported. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, cites Ever Maple Trading, a British Virgin Islands company registered in Los Angeles, and Hangzhou Hongsheng Beverage. The two individuals related to these companies were not named. Paris-based Danone has already filed for arbitration in Stockholm against its long-term joint-venture partner Zong Qinghou. It claims that the Chinese multimillionaire, who had agreed to work exclusively with Danone in China, has been selling beverages through his own businesses. According to Danone's allegations, Hangzhou Wahaha Food & Beverage Sales – a wholly-owned unit of Hangzhou Hongsheng, which is controlled by Ever Maple Trading – has been illegally selling products identical to those sold by Danone's Wahaha joint ventures in China. It also alleges that the company is making unlawful use of the joint venture's distributors and suppliers.
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