Show host Jacques Essebag, who goes by the name Arthur, is leading the suit against the Nestle subsidiary, the group’s lawyer Francois Besse told AFP today, confirming a report in the Swiss daily 24 heures.

The suit groups 11 creditors of Ethical Coffee Company (ECC), which founded in 2008 by a former Nespresso executive to make cheaper biodegradable capsules that were compatible with Nespresso machines.

ECC ceased activity in 2017 and went into bankruptcy in 2018 after facing repeated legal complaints from Nespresso, in what came to be known as the capsule war.

Nespresso won a blocking order on ECC just days after it began offering its capsules at an appliance chain store in 2011, and it was three years before it was lifted.

By that time, other competitors had entered the market.

Legal struggles continued for years after that, according to Besse.

The investor group is seeking damages and interest.

Besse wouldn’t reveal Arthur’s stake in ECC, but 24 heures said he’d spent €8 million between 2009 and 2010 for a 5% holding.

Nespresso had revenue of 6.4 billion Swiss francs in 2022, and dominates the market, especially after reaching an agreement with American coffee chain Starbucks in 2018 to sell capsules under its name in supermarkets.