Hormel is suing Johnsonvlle, alleging a former employee supplied trade-secret recipes and market intelligence. Last year, Americans spent $8.5 billion on sausages and hot dogs.
Call it a brat battle or a sausage subterfuge. Whatever the label, there’s a standoff brewing in the sausage world.
Hormel is suing its archrival Johnsonville, alleging a former employee left with trade-secret recipes and market intelligence and brought them to the competitor.
“The sausage market is increasingly competitive, and improper use of confidential, proprietary and trade-secret information, or wrongful competition or solicitation, could cause a manufacturer significant competitive economic disadvantage,” the suit reads.
Hormel also accuses another former employee of trying to lure other Hormel employees to Johnsonville after he changed jobs, violating a non-solicitation agreement.
