Snack company exec finds new job - gets slapped with a lawsuit

Chris Botticella knows the secret to those "nooks and crannies" in Thomas' English Muffins - the way they cradle butter and jam, and after a good toasting, produce just the right crunch.

It's a secret that the muffins' makers have gone to great lengths to protect over 75 years, allowing it to rack up $500 million in sales annually of the toaster treats.

The company says only seven executives know all three parts of its winning formula for making the muffins - including how much dough to use, the right amount of moisture and the proper way to bake them.

So it became alarmed and sued in January when Botticella, one of the trusted seven, decided to bolt and join rival Hostess, maker of Wonder Bread and Twinkies.

Link to article

Thoughts?

That wasn't very smart of him...did he really think they wouldn't care if he went to their RIVALS knowing the recipe...?

I don't like those things anyway :|..

Well, I can see how they would be upset.

Twinkie war!

Well, I can see how they would be upset.

Twinkie war!

Snipes_2

Could you imagine if instead it was a Coca-Cola person going to a new job at Pepsi?

I believe a bank in Atlanta stores the secret formula for Coke in its main vault.:P

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

Well, I can see how they would be upset.

Twinkie war!

topsemag55

Could you imagine if instead it was a Coca-Cola person going to a new job at Pepsi?

I believe a bank in Atlanta stores the secret formula for Coke in its main vault.:P

I think I'm with Thomas on this one, even though I think having their secrets leaked is better for consumers in the long run. Also the example the guy's lawyer gave is terrible..."If the assistant coach of the Philadelphia Eagles moves to the Dallas Cowboys, is he supposed to forget all of the plays that he learned while at the Eagles?" The obvious difference would be that the competition between the eagles and the cowboys itself is the product that they are selling to fans. In this case the competition between these companies can be the difference between thriving and going bankrupt...

We live in a free employment country. Most states allow you to quit at any time for any reason without having to specify in advanced when or why you are quitting. Conversely, you can be fired at any time for any reason without specifying a time in advanced or the reason why you are fired.

The man jumped shipped because he was unhappy at his job. The english muffin makers should've treated him better if they felt the secrets were so important; or simply not have told him.

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

Well, I can see how they would be upset.

Twinkie war!

Snipes_2

Could you imagine if instead it was a Coca-Cola person going to a new job at Pepsi?

I believe a bank in Atlanta stores the secret formula for Coke in its main vault.:P

What's so funny about it? A recipe is the most valuable assets a snack company owns. It's worth billions.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

Could you imagine if instead it was a Coca-Cola person going to a new job at Pepsi?

I believe a bank in Atlanta stores the secret formula for Coke in its main vault.:P

psychobrew

What's so funny about it? A recipe is the most valuable assets a snack company owns. It's worth billions.

Oh no, knowing the secret to a product that isn't even made at his new company. How terrible. :|

Considering searching "english muffin recipe" returns 1.3 million results i don't think the secret is all that valuablemarkop2003

What the heck is thomas english muffins?

I know they aspirate the dough so that the body of the muffin contains a higher volume of air pockets. Makes it crunchier and capable of absorbing more condiment material i guess.

Probably not a published fact. Oops.

Well, it's the same as if you worked at a software company, you can't use tech from your old company in your new company, even tech you worked on.

...hid his new employment deal for months while attending high-level Bimbo meetings and debating strategies for competing with Hostess

...accuse him of copying a dozen files onto a USB thumb drive in his final days

...accepted the Hostess offer last fall but stayed at Bimbo through Januaryarticle

He's screwed.

[quote="article"]...hid his new employment deal for months while attending high-level Bimbo meetings and debating strategies for competing with Hostess

...accuse him of copying a dozen files onto a USB thumb drive in his final days

...accepted the Hostess offer last fall but stayed at Bimbo through JanuaryOleg_Huzwog

He's screwed.

Not to mention that the best thing his attorney can say is a football analogy.:P:lol: