Dive Brief:
- After failed attempts at mediation, the dispute between Heinz and plaintiff David Wawrzynski over the original idea for Heinz's Dip & Squeeze will likely face trial.
- Wawrzynski claims that Heinz was exploring his idea for "the Little Dipper," a dual-opening condiment pouch, but suddenly halted consumer focus groups, saying the company was no longer interested in his idea.
- Two months later, Heinz introduced its Dip & Squeeze pack, which Wawrzynski says is a direct violation of his original idea and breach of implied contract.
Dive Insight:
Heinz's Dip & Squeeze pack gives users two options: dip food directly into the ketchup pack or tear off a corner to squeeze the ketchup out. This is a very similar idea to Wawrzynski's Little Dipper. However, Heinz claimed that it had already been developing such a product before ever meeting with Wawrzynski and provided the judge with evidence. But because Wawrzynski answered this evidence with evidence of his own, which showed that the company had not yet come up with a viable concept, the case will now likely go to trial.