Having evaluated trademarks registered by Latvian applicants in Latvia and the European Union in the FOURTH quarter 2025, an expert committee of the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) selected the next eight candidates for the main prize of the Trademark of the Year 2025 award. With a series of publications, we are introducing the companies – owners of creative, expressive and strong trademarks that are the candidates for the main prize in various nomination categories.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for Latvia
Category: Word Marks
Desire to be one step ahead of others – A-PATCH
A-PATCH LLC, a baseball cap manufacturing company, has grown from an embroidery studio created by two enthusiasts into a manufacturing facility that can be proud of its internationally recognized brand.
“A-PATCH, which is both the name of the company and the brand, was created by combining “A” as the first letter in the word “alpha”, which symbolizes being the first, one step ahead of others, A-class quality, and the word "PATCH", which sound like “Apache” when pronounced together, bringing to mind the Native American tribal people, who are famous for their magnificent appearance, rich culture and art, as well as stubbornness and purposefulness of character,” Valdis Verdenhofs, a member of the company's board, explains the meaning of the trademark.
The trademark owners can be proud that the caps have travelled around Europe as part of the Gumball 3000 Rally, and that the caps created by Latvian designer Inna Bertāne have been manufactured for the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket champions.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for the European Union
Category: Figurative Marks
Personal approach to healthy snacks – RORA
Liepkalni LLC is a bread and confectionery company beloved in Latvia. It was founded in 1993 and has since developed into a modern manufacturer that, along with respect for traditions and handicraft, purposefully develops innovative products, adapting to changing market needs and international food trends.
The name of the export-oriented biscuit line RORA has a personal touch - it has been inspired by reflections on the kind of snacks the company would like to offer their own children and on the value they could bring.
“RORA follows the values developed at Liepkalni – quality, reliability and a human approach – while offering a modern perspective on product development. We believe that well-being and joy can coexist, and joy is always on our list of ingredients,” emphasizes the company's CEO Agne Eglīte.
The procedure for the LPO’s Trademark of the Year award is organized in two stages. First, once a quarter, experienced LPO experts select four trademarks in the Trademark of the Year for Latvia nomination and four trademarks – in the Trademark of the Year for the European Union nomination that are further forwarded for the second evaluation stage. The winner of the Trademark of the Year 2025 award will be determined among 16 trademarks registered with the LPO under the national procedure and 16 trademarks registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).