Counterclaim Filed on Behalf of Wegmans Fish Broker

Counterclaims were filed Thursday on behalf of companies that are tied to Wegmans, which were named in a lawsuit that accused the retailer of copying a Manhattan fish market, reports Supermarket News.  

Law firm Gross Shuman P.C. filed counterclaims on behalf of Culinary Collaborations, Wegmans’ fish broker, and fish distributors Culimer USA and Red Shell Sushi, that call the accusations “baseless.”

The initial lawsuit was filed on Feb. 9 in New York County Supreme Court by Yuji Haraguchi who accused the three distributors and Wegmans of poaching Haraguchi’s business secrets related to his fish market, Osakana. Haraguchi also claims Wegmans is in breach of a non-disclosure agreement and non-compete agreement. Both were signed through Culinary Collaborations. He is seeking at least $1 million in damages. 

Last year, Haraguchi decided to sell Osakana. In the lawsuit, he alleges that Culimer USA, Red Shell Sushi, and Culinary Collaborations gained knowledge of secrets related to his business via the potential sale and brought those secrets to Wegmans. In October, Wegmans opened its Manhattan store with its own fish market, Sakana, which Haraguchi claims is a direct copy of his business, which is located nearby. Full Story