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Howard E. Wishner
EVP Marketing & Corporate Communication
Leading Brands, Inc
[email protected]
(203) 536-4792

Strategic Growth International
Stan Altschuler/David Waldman
(516) 829-7111
[email protected]

Energy Brands Inc.
Marketing Communications:
Erin Heit, (718) 746-0087 ext. 305
[email protected]

Leading Brands, Inc. Granted Canada-Wide License for Glaceau Vitaminwater


Feb. 28, 2002--Leading Brands, Inc. LBIX, Canada's largest independent, fully integrated premium beverage company, is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by Energy Brands Inc. of Whitestone Queens New York as the exclusive licensee of Glaceau Vitaminwater for Canada. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement Leading Brands will both bottle and distribute the product.

Glaceau Vitaminwater is the leader in the nutrient enhanced water category and is one of the fastest growing beverages in the United States today. A low-calorie, fruit-flavored drink infused with electrolytes and nutrients, Vitaminwater is called 'The next generation of Bottled Water.' The product has been featured in numerous recent articles from Time Inc. to People Magazine.

Leading Brands Chairman & CEO Ralph D. McRae added: "We are very pleased to be able to introduce this new beverage category to Canada. When I saw Phil Mickelson walk off the 15th tee at last years Masters carrying a bottle of Glaceau Vitaminwater I knew we had to have the product. J. Darius Bikoff, Founder & President Energy Brands Inc., and his team have done a wonderful job of defining and building this category in the US. It is now our job to continue that momentum into Canada and bring some excitement to an otherwise bland water segment."

Vitaminwater is a low calorie, colorful, great tasting water sold in a novel package. According to Entertainment Weekly Magazine the product has been adopted by Elizabeth Hurley, Cher and Sarah Jessica Parker, to name a few. Leading Brands anticipates first year sales of the product, which will be introduced early Summer of 2002, to top $2,000,000US.

We Build Brands™
© 2002 Leading Brands, Inc

Leading Brands, Inc. is the largest independent, fully integrated food and beverage brand management company in Canada. The Company's unique Integrated Distribution System (IDS) offers turnkey, one-stop shopping to food and beverage brand owners. Its subsidiary, Quick, Inc. is building a home replenishment and delivery system for the new economy.

Statements in this news release that are not historical are to be regarded as forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company's business include general economic conditions, weather conditions, changing beverage consumption trends, pricing, and the availability of raw materials and economic uncertainties, including currency.

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