W. Ed Booker, Harriet A. Booker, W. Ed Booker, Iii, a Partnership, D/B/A Booker Trading Company v. Ralston Purina Company, Inc., a Corporation

JOHN W. PECK, Senior Circuit Judge.

This is a diversity action for damages arising from a breach of contract brought by W. Ed Booker, a citizen of Tennessee doing business as the Booker Trading Company, against the Ralston Purina Company, Incorporated (Ralston), a Missouri corporation.

During 1973, Booker, a long-time consultant in the food marketing business, developed a new method of packaging entree meals. Through a process of freeze-drying Booker produced a handy, lightweight dinner with meat, sauce and vegetables. The product’s advantages included ease of transportation, due to its compact…