The legal fight between the companies dates to February 2012 and was as colorful as Leonard's trucks.

That's when National filed an antitrust lawsuit against Leonard's Syrups in federal court.

Weiss alleged in the lawsuit that Leonard's maintained a monopoly built on discount alternatives to brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and crushed competitors through racketeering, trying to steal customer lists and instituting predatory pricing, according to court records.

The eight-count complaint offered a snapshot of two firms fighting over a piece of an $11 billion industry in the U.S. comprised of syrups, flavorings and concentrates dominated by Coke and Pepsi. Manufacturers are facing a drop in demand, however, amid health concerns about sugar and artificial sweeteners, according to industry researcher IBISWorld.

The two local firms, Leonard's and National, were designed to serve customers who want discount syrup for, among other uses, fountain drinks and cocktails. In the discount-syrup world, when someone orders a Jack and Coke, the Jack Daniels may be real; the Coke, not always.

National was incorporated in 2009 and tried cracking the local syrup market dominated by Leonard's, a family business launched in 1964 by the late Leonard Bugajewski Sr. and currently headed by son Leonard Bugajewski Jr.

National's small roster of taste-alike syrups included P-Cola, instead of Pepsi; Vern's Ginger Ale, instead of Vernors; and Desert Mist, instead of Sierra Mist.

National once controlled about 1 percent of the bar and nightclub market in metro Detroit and about 10 percent of the discount soft drink syrup market in the region, according to court records, and had plans to boost its share locally.

CEO Bugajewski said Leonard's controls about 35 percent of the local market and employs 65 workers. Its revenue tops $12 million, he said.

Bugajewski's son Len is company president and grandson Leo could run the company someday.

"If we're all in the same room," Bugajewski said, "it can get confusing."

Syrup is one facet of Leonard's business, built to withstand constant pressure from soda pop titans. The company, formally incorporated as Leonard Fountain Specialties Inc., also has a beer coil cleaning division, supplies bulk carbon dioxide and other beverage gases to restaurants such as McDonald's and HopCat in Detroit, and installs and services soda, wine and beer equipment for companies that include Bells Brewery Inc.

"I might not be that smart, I might not have that many great ideas, and I'm probably not the most entrepreneurial guy," Bugajewski said, "but I don't quit."

An example: Last week, one of the soda guns behind the bar malfunctioned at client Duggan's Irish Pub in Royal Oak, one day before the popular Thanksgiving Eve bar night.

Chef Jeff LaPointe called Leonard's, which provides syrup and equipment to the two-story bar on Woodward Avenue.

"They took the call real quick and were here in the afternoon," LaPointe said. "They're very organized... . We're loyal to them and don't feel there's anybody better at this point."

When Leonard's launched in 1964, there were 16 syrup competitors. Today, Bugajewski said, there's just Leonard's locally.

"If you're not tough, you'll be wiped out," Bugajewski said.