Tropic's Yuca Chips Score A Hole-In-One For Publix Shoppers At Honda Classic Golf Tournament PR Newswire -- March 7, 2002 CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- For Tropic's Yuca Chips, being over par is a good thing. The all-natural, gourmet snack food is always a high-scorer in taste tests and now thousands of visitors to this weekend's Honda Classic golf tournament are about to find out why. On Saturday, March 9, at Heron Bay, golf enthusiasts will be able to score a free sample bag of Tropic's Yuca Chips in a chip shot contest at the Tropic's booth. And they'll also walk away with some tasty news: Tropic's Yuca Chips debuting in the natural food aisle of their favorite Publix supermarket. "This event will give us the chance to drive home the facts about Tropic's Yuca Chips," said Barbara G. Leon, Vice President of Marketing for Ritz Foods International, the manufacturer of Tropic's Yuca Chips. "Most people start snacking on our chips because they love the bold, crisp taste, but many don't realize that our chips have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips, are high in fiber and 100 percent natural." "We're the perfect snack for people who don't want to look like couch potatoes as they watch their favorite golfers compete on TV," Leon said. Tropic's Yuca Chips have become a cult favorite among munchers who have shopped for the five flavors of the snack food in gourmet and health food stores such as Whole Foods and Wild Oats, but now Tropic's is chipping away at even greater competition with its entry into Publix. "Tropic's Yuca Chips are a healthy alternative to potato chips," said Leon. "And they are even tastier. One bite and you'll never go back to potato." To increase brand awareness and its debut on the natural foods aisle of Publix, Ritz Foods is launching a radio campaign on Sunny 104.3 that will begin next week. In store demonstrations, secret shoppers, appearances by Miss Tropic's Yuca Chips and a "Yu Can be a Star" singing contest are all a part of the massive marketing and public relations campaign behind this new taste sensation. To assure the highest quality and crispiest taste, the very day the yuca is harvested, it is sliced and processed into chips by Ritz Foods International. CONTACT: Toni Somma, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 21 tsomma@transmediagroup.com