Former VP Sues Campbell Soup, Alleges Retaliatory Firing Over Executive's Remarks

A former Campbell Soup Company vice president has filed a lawsuit against the food giant, claiming he was unlawfully terminated after reporting that the company's chief financial officer, Mick Beekhuizen, made derogatory comments about its customers and employees. The plaintiff, Martin Bally, who served as VP of supply chain, alleges that he was fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle on the executive's conduct.

The lawsuit, filed in a Michigan federal court, details an incident from a March 2024 business dinner where Beekhuizen allegedly referred to Campbell's customers as "poor people" and its soup as "cheap food for poor people." According to the complaint, the CFO also made racist remarks about Indian workers, questioning why the company hired them and allegedly referring to them in a derogatory manner. The lawsuit alleges Beekhuizen made several incendiary comments, including a statement that the company was "killing the consumers, but they are poor, and they don't have a voice."

Bally claims that after he reported these remarks to the company's human resources department and ethics hotline, he became the subject of an internal investigation. He asserts that this investigation was a pretext that ultimately led to his dismissal in September for an alleged violation of company policy. The complaint outlines claims of a toxic internal culture and alleges the company protected the executive an instead targeted the whistleblower. The suit seeks damages for wrongful termination, emotional distress, and punitive damages.

Campbell Soup Company has publicly denied the accusations. In a statement, a company spokesperson said that the allegations were "immediately and thoroughly investigated" and found to be "unsubstantiated." The company maintains that Bally’s termination was for a legitimate reason, stating he was dismissed "for violating Campbell's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics." According to the company's official response to the lawsuit, it plans to "vigorously defend" its position against Bally's claims in court.