Joe's Deli Accuses Former Manager of Copying Business Concepts; Legal Action Underway

Patrick Killalea, owner of Joe's Deli, has publicly accused a former manager, Amit Roy, of copying menu items, recipes, and business concepts for Roy's new sandwich shop, Stack'd. Killalea's allegations were detailed in an Instagram post, to which Roy has responded by denying the claims as "absurd and untrue." Joe's Deli has initiated legal proceedings against Roy, including the issuance of a cease and desist order.

Patrick Killalea, owner of Joe's Deli, has publicly accused a former manager, Amit Roy, of copying menu items, recipes, and business concepts for Roy's new sandwich shop, Stack'd.

Allegations of Intellectual Property Theft

Killalea's accusations center on claims that Stack'd, a new establishment located in Woolloongabba, has replicated aspects of Joe's Deli's business model. According to Killalea, four specific sandwiches and a cheesecake recipe on Stack'd’s menu are direct copies of items from Joe's Deli. He further alleged that Stack'd's menu presentation, item names, structure, and even suppliers mirror those of his deli. Killalea also stated that Stack'd's Instagram branding and content style mimic Joe's Deli's.

Killalea alleged that Roy resigned from Joe's Deli in August 2025 under what he described as false pretenses. Killalea claimed Roy stated he was returning to a previous employer, identified in one report as Guzman y Gomez. Instead, Killalea alleged that Roy had been preparing to open Stack'd as a competing business since that time. Killalea stated he became aware of the alleged similarities after an employee brought the matter to his attention.

Security Footage and Legal Action

As part of his public accusations, Killalea posted security footage which he claims shows Roy and another individual in the back-of-house area of Joe's Deli. Killalea asserted that these individuals were not employees and lacked authorization to be in that area, alleging their presence was for the purpose of acquiring trade secrets.

In response to these alleged actions, Joe’s Deli has initiated legal action against Amit Roy, which includes issuing a cease and desist order or notice. Killalea stated that he decided to pursue legal action and make the dispute public after preparing his case.

Amit Roy's Response

Amit Roy has strongly denied the allegations. When contacted for comment, Roy stated via text message that the accusations were "absurd and untrue." He also indicated his intention to contact his lawyers regarding the matter.