Hormel wanted to improve its process for making precooked bacon. It reached out to HIP, a supplier of cooking equipment, to help in that endeavor. As part of the partnership, Hormel and HIP sought to jointly develop an oven with a two-step process for making the precooked bacon. The parties discussed, and HIP personnel suggested the use of, an infrared oven and a spiral oven, and it was later agreed that HIP would supply a spiral oven for testing.