Le Bleu and Nature’s Pearl Leader Wins The Business Journal’s 40 Leaders Award

March 3, 2010 - PRLog -- The Business Journal of the Triad chose Brock Agee as one of the Triad’s “40 Leaders Under 40” winners in an evening ceremony February 25, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro.  Agee is President of Nature’s Pearl Corporation and Vice President of Le Bleu Corporation, both headquartered in Advance, N. C.  Representatives from The Business Journal said that the 2010 competition fielded a record number of applicants of more than 120 entries for the annual award.

“We found ourselves heartened by the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated as these emerging leaders strive to make their employers more successful, and their communities better places,” said Douglas W. Copeland, Jr., President and Publisher of The Business Journal.  Winners included attorneys, bankers, business owners and professionals across Piedmont North Carolina.

Brock Agee rose from a sales position with Le Bleu Corporation to become Vice President in 2007. Agee successfully negotiated key contracts with major food service and grocery chain distributors, and developed the Private Label division for Le Bleu.  Agee oversees all facets of operations for Le Bleu sales and distribution, sold in more than two dozen countries around the world.

“Brock is the brightest young executive that I have ever met in my business career,” said CEO Jerry W. Smith, who founded both Le Bleu and Nature’s Pearl Corporations in the past 20 years.  Smith promoted Agee to become President of Nature’s Pearl in 2009. Agee now oversees more than 2,500 independent distributors in Nature’s Pearl direct marketing business model. Nature’s Pearl Premium Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement and Muscadine20 Antioxidant Skin Care products are sold throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

“For the past seven years, Jerry Smith has instilled business values in me that will last a lifetime,” said Agee. “Le Bleu and Nature’s Pearl are now poised to be leaders in the billion-dollar health and wellness industry because of our quality products.”
Nature’s Pearl is the only muscadine product in the world which has undergone double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials, researching Nature’s Pearl effects on cardiovascular functions (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01011517?term=N...). Nature’s Pearl is also the only muscadine supplement company to fund in vitro cancer studies at a major medical university (www.naturespearlproducts.com).

About Le Bleu Corporation:
Le Bleu Corporation, established in 1990, uses a unique patent-pending process to produce the purest and best tasting water in the world. Le Bleu’s five-step purification process eliminates the inorganic minerals and chemicals that may be present in other waters. Le Bleu offers 5-gallon delivery service to over 65,000 residential, business and industrial customers throughout North and South Carolina, southern Virginia and eastern Tennessee. Le Bleu Ultra Pure Water is distributed nationally through major grocery chains, natural health stores, food service distributors and drug retailers. International distribution of Le Bleu has spread throughout two dozen countries around the world. Doctors and nutritionists worldwide recommend Le Bleu Ultra Pure steam-distilled bottled water for its purity and taste. Le Bleu was chosen “Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage in the Western Hemisphere” at the V Americas Food and Beverage Trade Show. Le Bleu received the “Best in Cold Beverages” Peoples’ Choice Award from the National Nutritional Foods Association; and has been listed in Beverage Industry’s “Top 100 Beverage Companies“ since 2005 (www.lebleu.com). Business Leader Media chose CEO Jerry W. Smith as one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in 2010.

About Nature’s Pearl Corporation:
Nature’s Pearl Corporation, founded in 2005 in Advance, N.C., is a leader in the muscadine grape seed nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries, offering consumers worldwide high quality muscadine grape  products.  In addition to Nature’s Pearl™ Premium Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement, the company has developed Natures Pearl Muscadine 20 Antioxidant Skin Care™, including Ultra Rich Lotion, Skin Renewal Serum, Rejuvenating Skin Polish, Soothing Relief Spray, and Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Nature’s Pearl also produces 100% All-Natural Muscadine Grape Juice.  Founder and CEO Jerry W. Smith, who also founded Le Bleu Corporation, established Nature’s Pearl after two years of research with muscadine grape growers and scientists. Nature’s Pearl has completed the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover human clinical trial researching Nature’s Pearl efficacy on cardiovascular function (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01011517?term=m...).
 Nature’s Pearl is also the only muscadine supplement company to fund in vitro cancer studies  on “The Effect of Muscadine Grape Seed and Grape Skin Extract on the Growth of Human Cancer Cells” at a major medical university. (www.naturespearlproducts.com).  

Media Contact:

Debbie Pullen
Director of Public Relations
336.940.4962

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Nature's Pearl and Le Bleu Corporations are two separate companies founded by Jerry W. Smith in Advance, N. C. Le Bleu Ultra Pure Water is distributed internationally. Nature's Pearl Premium Muscadine Grape Seed products are sold through distributors.