Louisiana Company Named Exporter of the Year by U.S. Export Promotion Magazine

Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasonings Blends® of New Orleans, Louisiana, has been awarded a 2007 ThinkGlobal/Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Commercial News USA is a catalog-style magazine distributed to an estimated 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. Awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 15 industry categories. Privately held, Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasonings Blends® was named Exporter of the Year in the Hotel & Restaurant/Food/Food Services category.

Winners were chosen based on the total number of documented export deals completed in 2005, total percentage increase in sales in 2005 compared to 2004, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to exporting, the company’s commitment to customer service, and the company’s innovation and originality in marketing products or services.

To be eligible for the award, the company must currently be exporting from the United States.

Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasonings Blends® produces seasonings created by the renowned Chef Paul himself. The company reported total export sales of $1,750,000 in 2005, a 20% increase from 2004. Exports now represent 12% of the company’s total sales.

Founded in 1983, Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasonings Blends® began exporting in 1985, with their first order sent to Japan. “Part of what I love to do is take cooking lessons when I travel overseas—they allow me to see how seasonings can be used in any recipe. It also makes me proud to see how accepted Magic Seasoning Blends® have become to chefs and home cooks worldwide,” says Magic Seasonings Blends owner and creator, Paul Prudhomme.

Gregory Sandler, publisher of Commercial News USA, said that Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasonings Blends®’ success is indicative of how American companies can benefit from exporting. “With 95% of the world’s market outside the U.S., there is significant growth opportunity for American manufactures and service providers.”

More information about the Exporter of the Year awards is available online at www.exporteroftheyear.com.