Food Industry Leaders Join Board of Heart Healthy Snack Food Innovator

24/08/06 Corazonas Foods, Inc., creators of great-tasting, all-natural, heart-healthy snack foods, announced it has "spun out" from Brand New Brands, Inc. This significant milestone for the entrepreneurial venture comes less than six months after the successful launch of its debut product, Corazonas heart-healthy tortilla chips -- the first snack chips clinically proven to lower cholesterol.

"While many Americans want to eat food that is healthy, they often turn to options that are not truly enjoyable, or give up some of their favorite indulgent snacks altogether. What's ground-breaking about our debut product -- Corazonas heart-healthy tortilla chips -- is that they deliver a delicious and full-flavored taste that is unprecedented, and even unexpected, in the healthy snack arena," said Ramona Cappello, co-founder and chief executive officer of Corazonas Foods. "The overwhelming positive feedback that we've received from consumers, retail and foodservice partners, and investors on Corazonas heart-healthy tortilla chips clearly demonstrates that we're addressing an unmet market need for heart-healthy snack alternatives in the $24.3 billion salty snack category."

The company also announced Charles A. Lynch is chair of the board of Corazonas Foods. "Corazonas Foods pioneered the first tortilla chip that is clinically proven to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 15 percent," said Lynch. "As a stand-alone company, Corazonas will continue to be a trailblazer in offering delicious, heart-healthy, all-natural snack alternatives to consumers." Lynch is also chairman of the board of Market Value Partners Company, a management mentor and advisor resource for existing and emerging businesses, and nSpired Natural Foods. Previously in his career Lynch served as chairman and chief executive officer of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation and Saga Corporation and on the board of directors of Spectrum Organic Products.

Additionally, Edward Marra is joining Corazonas Foods' board of directors. Marra most recently served as executive vice president at Nestle S.A., where he was responsible for strategy, innovation and renovation for all Nestle categories worldwide. These businesses included some of the world's most powerful brands such as Nescafe, Kit Kat, Stouffer's and Haagen Dazs. In addition to the board of directors of Corazonas Foods, Marra currently is a board member of Beverage Partners Worldwide, the Nestle/Coca- Cola joint venture.

Why Heart-Healthy Foods?

According to new guidelines issued by the American Heart Association in June 2006, a healthy diet and lifestyle are key weapons in the fight to prevent cardiovascular disease -- the nation's number one cause of death for both men and women. Among their recommendations are achieving and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Yet at least 50 percent of the American adult population, or almost 107 million people, suffer from borderline to high cholesterol, defined as a total cholesterol count of 200 mg/dL or higher.

Inspired by the Spanish word for heart, corazon, Corazonas chips feature whole oats and plant sterols and offer proven heart-health benefits. This delicious and innovative chip is the first snack chip that is clinically proven to lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a.k.a. "bad cholesterol," by up to 15 percent. Additionally, Corazonas chips are cholesterol free, trans fat free, low in saturated fat, all natural, and depending on flavor, a low or reduced-sodium snack.

Corazonas heart-healthy tortilla chips are available in three scrumptious flavors -- Original, Salsa Picante and Jalapeno Jack -- and in 2-ounce and 7-ounce packages. They can be purchased at Mollie Stone's, Andronico's, Lunardi's and other select retailers and foodservice operators in Northern California; Wild Oats, Henry's and Ralphs in Southern California; King Soopers stores in Colorado; online at Amazon.com and at more than 530 Jamba Juice stores nationwide.