A judge has ruled that Don Lee Farms proved Beyond Meat breached its manufacturing agreement with the company, and issued a right to attach order.
In a separate court case, a judge granted Don Lee Farms’ request to name Beyond Meat CFO Mark Nelson, Senior Quality Assurance Manager Jessica Quetsch, and Director of Operations Anthony Miller in its fraud claims.
The claims allege Beyond Meat intentionally doctored and omitted material information from a food safety consultant’s report, and then delivered it to Don Lee Farms, telling the company it was the complete opinion of the consultant.
The omitted portions of the report discussed significant food safety issues at Beyond Meat’s facility.
“We will prove our claim that Beyond Meat misappropriated our trade secrets to manufacture the Beyond Burger and other products.
We will prove the breach of the Exclusive Supply Agreement and fraud claim committed by Mr. Nelson and others,” said Don Lee Farms President Donald Goodman in a released statement.
Beyond Meat entered into an exclusive supply agreement with Don Lee Farms and the Beyond Burger was solely manufactured by the company in 2016.
Beyond Meat then left the agreement in 2017 and moved to other food manufacturers.
