Ritz Foods Appoints Marketing Executive to Promote Tropic's Yuca Chips, the Healthy Snack Food BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ Ritz Foods International, Inc. has promoted marketing specialist Barbara G. Leon to head its sales and marketing of Tropic's Yuca Chips, charging the former executive of the Pepsi-Cola Company, Latin America Division with making the healthy snack food a household name. Leon, who has a blue-chip pedigree from Pepsi and Merck Co. Inc. where she was previously employed, plans to take Tropic's Yuca Chips into wider distribution at large grocery store chains, gourmet health foods shops and restaurants. The Vice President of Sales & Marketing will forecast and generate sales in domestic and international markets, coordinate the distribution of Tropic's Yuca Chips and manage all marketing plans and events with the public relations firm, The TransMedia Group. Already Leon has made progress with Tropic's Yuca Chips, increasing sales of Tropic's by 100 percent with promotion strategies implemented by Leon while director of sales and marketing for Ritz Foods. "Barbara has a special touch when it comes to sales and marketing," said Gerald Ritthaler, president of Ritz Foods. "She is savvy, a go-getter and refuses to take 'no' for an answer. She has a thorough understanding of the farming, processing and distribution of the chips, giving her the ability to manage all facets of the operation. With her marketing skills, Tropic's Yuca Chips is destined to reach more Americans who want a healthy alternative to potato chips." Leon, who is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, coordinated Pepsi's $80 million concentrate sales between 22 countries and three manufacturing plants while with the company. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives. 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. Contact: Angel Streeter 561/750-9800 ext. 21 astreeter@transmediagroup.com