By Aimee Chanthadavong
Grocery and liquor wholesale, distributor and marketer Metcash has been successful in its court action against former CEO of IGA Distribution Lou Jardin.
The company welcomed the judgement that was handed down yesterday in the NSW Supreme Court.
"We feel vindicated in taking this action to protect our competitive position" a Metcash spokesperson told Retailbiz.
The Court held that Jardin breached his employment contract and the Court did not accept his evidence regarding his proposed future role with SPAR.
The Court made restraining orders against Jardin and his family company Jardim Investments. These orders include preventing them or any of their servants or agents until December 2010 from competing with the business of Metcash; discussing the business of SPAR with any other person other than their legal advisers for the purposes of obtaining legal advice; and participating in the decision making or management of SPAR.
"Metcash had a legitimate interest in preventing Mr Jardin from using confidential information and customer connections," Justice Michael Ball said in a statement.