Heinz introduced its “Dip & Squeeze” product in 2010. The product was designed in the hopes of helping customers use the ketchup while on the go. Customers, with the new product, are able to put ketchup on hot dogs and hamburgers while also using it to dip fries into. Well, Heinz is now being sued regarding the idea in a lawsuit that claims the product was stolen. The plaintiff, Scott White, works as a risk analyst for the Chicago Housing Authority. He claims that Heinz stole his idea, the CondiCup, after he pitched the product to the company back in 2006.
In the lawsuit, White claims that the product was created so it can be placed into the cup holder of a vehicle. White said that customers are able to remove a section of the lid to squeeze ketchup out of it for sandwiches or to take the lid off completely for fry dipping.
In July, White was granted a patent for his product despite Heinz continually defending its product, the Dip & Squeeze. The Huffington Post received a statement from a spokeswoman from Heinz that said, “Heinz worked for years to develop its patented dual-function Dip & Squeeze package. Heinz won a similar lawsuit earlier this summer. This is another frivolous lawsuit and we will aggressively defend our position and demonstrate that the allegations are groundless and without merit.”