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Tropic's Yuca Chips Glitter With Crystal Slipper Award To Snack Food Executive

PR Newswire -- March 18, 2002

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Images of Cinderella were brought to mind when Barbara Leon, Vice President of Ritz Foods International was honored with a crystal slipper for demonstrating creativity, drive, commitment and excellence in business.

Leon won the "Rising Star" category for her "emerging business leadership and endless energy" at the 4th Annual Crystal Slipper Awards held March 14 at the Boca Country Club.

Head of sales and marketing for the Delray Beach-based Ritz Foods, Leon's special achievements include taking the company's premier product Tropic's Yuca Chips into wider distribution, including major health food chains such as Publix, gourmet health food shops and restaurants.

Within two years, the single mother of three has increased sales of Tropic's Yuca Chips by 100 percent. She recently created a "Taste Test Challenge" for the chips and has taken it on the road to trade shows and retail outlets across the country, extolling the low-fat, low-salt, high-fiber virtues of the chips.

"Barbara's always been our Cinderella," said Gerald Ritthaler, president of Ritz Foods. "Her energy and enterprise in establishing new markets for Tropic's Yuca Chips make her very deserving of the Crystal Slipper Award. We're proud of her success."

The Crystal Slipper Awards are a tribute to all the professional women of South Florida and recognizes their creative leadership, drive and commitment to propel their business.

"It's an honor to be chosen from such a highly talented and motivated group of business leaders in our community," Leon said. "I couldn't wait to try the slipper on. It fit."

Yuca, also known as cassava, has been a primary source of nutrition for South American Indian tribes. Spread throughout the tropics in the 1500s by European explorers, yuca now provides nutrition to more than 750 million people. Grown on its 5,000-acre farm in Venezuela, Tropic's Yuca roots are harvested, processed and packaged within 24 hours. They go from the field to the package the same day, assuring the highest quality, the crispiest taste and unequaled freshness. Offering 40 percent less fat than potato chips, Tropic's Yuca Chips are 100 percent natural and contain no cholesterol, additives, chemicals, preservatives, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.

Visit their website at www.ritzfoods.com.

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