Overheard my cook discussing a recipe theft scheme at the diner counter

I was grabbing lunch at that new spot on 6th Street last Tuesday and caught two servers from different restaurants talking about how they've been swapping special sauce recipes with a guy who works at a local packaging company. They said they're planning to sell these recipes online as "exclusive Amarillo blends" without telling their owners. It got me thinking about how easy it is for someone on your staff to walk out with your unique dishes or trade secrets, especially if you haven't locked down any non-disclosure agreements. I've got a small BBQ joint myself, and I'm feeling paranoid now about who I let back in the kitchen. Has anyone else dealt with employees sharing proprietary recipes or methods with outsiders? What steps do you take to protect your menu items beyond just trusting your crew?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_jones7216h ago

Why are you so worried about someone stealing a recipe when half the time customers can't even tell the difference between a homemade sauce and something from a jar? Most food trends die out in a year anyway so protecting secret formulas feels like guarding a sinking ship. If your food is really that good you should be more focused on keeping your staff happy than locking down recipes.

haydenj902h agoMost Upvoted

@julia_jones72, don’t you think staff retention actually ties directly into whether a recipe stays secret or gets leaked?