Hog-Stunning Trade Secrets

A scary trade secrets story from the Austin version of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin.

It seems that in September 2008, Hormel Foods Corp. entered into an agreement with a New Hampshire company, Ferrite Co., to develop a hog-stunning system. Hormel claims it paid a deposit and also provided Ferrite with various proprietary and confidential materials consisting of trade secrets.

Ferrite didn’t deliver and now Hormel is seeking at least $30,000 in court.

According to the PB, part of the alleged violations stem from a mutual confidential disclosure agreement entered into on Dec. 1, 2008 to protect trade secrets and other data owned by Hormel and given to Ferrite for the stunning-system project.