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When Leo Pearlstein founded Lee & Associates back in 1950, he had no idea he would
one day be referred to as a “Legend of Food PR,” as part of a feature in the Public
Relations News publication, or be named a “PR superstar” in the Public Relations
Quarterly magazine. TV Guide has even featured Leo and cited his ability and
professionalism in getting his clients’ products placed on television shows and in
movies. Over the years, Leo, who personally supervised all phases of the agency’s
operations and members of his highly respected firm, have won numerous awards for
outstanding accomplishments in food industry public relations, marketing and
merchandising from many organizations.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, food conglomerates and major corporations have called
on Leo’s expertise in corporate communications. He pioneered in California agricultural
commodity and generic promotions and has created and supervised successful programs
for over 40 different food advisory boards, trade associations and co-ops, as well as state
and federally-funded marketing groups. This includes industries such as almonds, apples,
artichokes, asparagus, boysenberries, chives, corn, eggs, figs, grapefruit, papayas,
peaches, pineapples, plums, prunes, seafood, tomatoes and turkeys.
Some of the commodity groups he has handled range from the Danish Dairy Board and
the English Cheese Association to the Mexican shrimp industry. Beverage clients he has
worked with range from Pepsico and the milk industry to Suntory International (a billion-
dollar conglomerate which produces over a hundred whiskey, wine and soft drink
products). And because of his great knowledge of food, Leo was invited to participate
in the first President’s Council on Nutrition at the White House.
In this book, Leo shares some of his favorite adventures in Public Relations.