BREA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jim Beck, CEO of Nature’s Best, the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributor of organic and natural food products in the U.S., has been selected as a semi-finalist in the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) Awards in Orange County.
Beck was chosen by an elite panel of judges as one of 29 semi-finalists from 70 nominations. “It is an honor to be selected among such an outstanding group of entrepreneurs,” he said. “It is through the support and dedication of our entire management team that I receive this notable achievement.”
Beck is responsible for leading the company’s significant growth during the past seven years. In the wake of the recession, he has tripled company revenue and significantly grown the customer base, a rare feat in one of the worst economic downturns in U.S. history.
Nature’s Best remains a privately held company and is proud to continue its 40-year tradition of innovation. Beck has been instrumental in transforming the family business into a thriving, growth-oriented enterprise. “One of my proudest achievements is keeping Nature’s Best a family-owned business,” says Beck.
From opening two LEED® Gold Certified warehouses to implementing state-of-the-art warehouse management software that improved efficiency by more than 100 percent to launching the independent label Cadia®, the company’s outlook has never been brighter.
Each year, Ernst & Young recognizes and applauds entrepreneurial leaders and visionaries who contribute to the strength of their communities and the economy. Each of the semi-finalists will be interviewed at an exclusive reception at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach on May 3 and winners will be announced at a special gala on June 7 at the St. Regis Resort in Laguna Niguel.
About Nature’s Best:
Recognized as a pioneer in the organic foods industry, Gladys and Walter Lindberg opened the doors to a retail nutrition store in Los Angeles in 1949. The store grew into a chain that was considered the first health food “superstore” in Southern California. Acquiring Nature’s Best in 1969, the family has grown the company into the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributor of health and natural food products in the country. The company has also developed Cadia®, a fast-growing private label that encompasses organic products such as rich pasta sauces, soymilk and snacks. Earning recognition as a Certified Organic Distributor, Nature’s Best ensures the integrity of all its organic products. The company’s fleet of multi-temperature delivery trucks serves health and natural food stores, independent supermarkets and restaurants throughout a dozen western states with ocean liners serving Nature’s Best’s customers in Hawaii, Alaska and Asia.