Campbell Soup Company has placed one of its executives, Martin Bally, on administrative leave while it investigates serious allegations of racist comments and disparaging remarks about customers. This decision comes following a lawsuit filed by former employee Robert Garza in Michigan, where both individuals reside. The allegations center on remarks Bally allegedly made during a meeting with Garza in November 2024.
According to information reported by The Associated Press, Garza claims he recorded the meeting in which Bally referred to Campbell’s products as “highly process(ed) food,” stating they were targeted at “poor people.” The lawsuit also alleges that Bally made derogatory remarks about Indian workers, calling them “idiots.” Furthermore, Garza asserts that Bally confessed to frequently arriving at work under the influence of marijuana edibles.
Details of the Allegations and Company Response
On January 10, Garza informed his manager, J.D. Aupperle, about the comments made by Bally and expressed his intention to report them to Campbell’s human resources department. Garza claims that Aupperle neither encouraged him to follow through with the report nor provided any guidance on how to proceed. Just weeks later, on January 30, 2024, Garza was terminated from his position, which he now argues was a direct consequence of his decision to report Bally’s comments.
In response to the allegations, Campbell’s released a public statement emphasizing that if the comments captured in the recording were indeed made by Bally, they would be considered “unacceptable.” The company stated, “Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company. We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”
Campbell’s further clarified that Bally’s role as an IT executive does not involve the production of their food products, reinforcing their commitment to the quality of their offerings. The company asserted, “We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it, and the high-quality ingredients we use to provide consumers with good food at a good value. The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate — they are patently absurd.”
Garza is now seeking monetary damages and has named both Bally and Aupperle as defendants in his lawsuit, holding them accountable for his dismissal. The unfolding situation raises significant questions about workplace culture and accountability within the organization as the investigation progresses.
