A major legal battle has erupted in the food distribution industry, with a leading company accusing a competitor of stealing trade secrets and poaching employees. Sysco Hampton Roads, Inc., filed a complaint on November 10, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Performance Foodservice Company (PFG) and former employee Cole Winchester. The lawsuit accuses PFG of systematically targeting Sysco’s employees and customers, using stolen confidential information to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
According to the complaint, Sysco alleges that PFG conspired with Winchester to misappropriate its trade secrets and confidential information. This includes customer lists, pricing details, sales data, and other sensitive business information. Sysco claims that before leaving the company on September 5, 2025, Winchester emailed himself numerous confidential documents containing detailed customer information and pricing strategies. After joining PFG, he allegedly continued accessing Sysco’s systems using unauthorized credentials to further solicit Sysco’s customers.
Sysco asserts that this conduct violates both federal and state laws protecting trade secrets. The complaint highlights that two significant customers ceased doing business with Sysco shortly after Winchester’s departure, resulting in a loss exceeding $1.2 million. Sysco also accuses PFG of having a history of recruiting its employees and engaging in unfair competition practices by leveraging stolen proprietary information.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court. Sysco requests an injunction preventing Winchester from using or disclosing its confidential information and enforcing his non-compete agreement. It also demands damages for lost business opportunities and punitive damages for willful misconduct by both defendants. Additionally, Sysco seeks an order requiring PFG to return all misappropriated property and engage an independent expert to investigate the extent of its use of Sysco’s trade secrets.
Representing Sysco is a team of attorneys who have filed this case under Civil Action No. 2:25-cv-00732 before judges in the Norfolk Division of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Source: 225cv00732_Sysco_Hampton_Roads_Inc_v_Cole_Winchester_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
