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A major food processor has filed a lawsuit
against a leading sausage producer and two
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former employees over allegations of trade
secret theft.
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The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Hormel
Foods sued Johnsonville and two individuals in
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federal court over an alleged conspiracy to
steal recipes,
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marketing research, and other information.
According to the complaint,
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the scheme stemmed from Johnsonville’s hiring
of Hormel veteran Brett Simms as its new chief
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supply chain officer two years ago.
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alleged that Sims began recruiting former
Hormel co-workers to the Wisconsin sausage
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maker in violation of a non-solicitation
agreement, including Jeremy Rummel,
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who took a job at Johnsonville earlier this
year.
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Prior to informing Hormel of his departure,
however, the company says Rummel sent
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proprietary information to a personal email
account, including product formulas,
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processing techniques, marketing strategy
details, and information about potential
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acquisition targets.
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added that after Hormel raised the issue with
Rummel, and he acknowledged sending those
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emails, he and Sims met to go over the details
of that meeting.
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Hormel also alleged that Johnsonville was
uncooperative when Hormel sent a letter
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outlining its concerns.
The Minnesota-based owner of the Spam,
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GenEO, and Planters brands is reportedly
seeking the return or deletion of its
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confidential data, along with monetary damages.
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Neither the companies nor the employees named
in the lawsuit responded to inquiries from the
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Star Tribune.
I’m Andy Zal.
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This is manufacturing now.