U.S. Grown Leaf, Inc. Forms Distribution Partnership with Cherokee Tobacco Company

CHASE CITY- U.S. Grown Leaf, Incorporated, owner of Adventure line of cigarette products in Novemer, after signing a manufacturing contract with Virginia Brands, LLC, of South Boston, VA.

"While Virginia Brands had all the manufacturing capabilities we needed to get out product on the market, we knew our small company would need assistance distributing our product outside the states of Virginia and North Carolina," said U.S. Grown Leaf, Inc. President and CEO Jim Jennings. "In an effort to increase our distribution operation and enter the world-wide cigarette market, we are now forming a partnership with Cherokee Tobacco Company."

With headquarters in Halifax County, Cherokee Tobacco Company recently completed its relocation to that county, and employs approximately 40 people in South Boston. The company also contracts with Virginia Brands for the manufacture of allits cigarette products.

"We are excited about this opportunity to expand our product line to consumers." said C.F. Fuller, President and COO of Cherokee Tobacco Company. "Cherokee cigarettes has been exceptionally well received by our customers and we believe that adding the premium cigarette Adventure to our distribution network will be equally well received."

Initially established in the mid 1990's, Cherokee Tobacco Company has employees and contractors in Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its current and expanding distribution network will enable U.S. Grown Leaf to broaden the distribution of the Adventure cigarette line into the national and international cigarette market.

"As a start-up company with only five employees, it would have taken a considerable amount of time to develop a distribution operation capable of functioning on a national level," Jennings added. "The larger distribution network available through Cherokee Tobacco Company will provide the access and manpower we need to be competitive with other cigarette companies in the world-wide market. Increased distribution and manufacturing will also help our company grow into a larger operation in the future."

In addition, Jennings said that U.S. Grown Leaf's partnerships with Cherokee Tobacco Company and Virginia Brands will benefit both Mecklenburg and Halifax counties through job development, and a strengthening of the Southside tobacco industry.

Utilizing U.S. grown Flue-Cured and Burley tobacco, and some oriental leaf in its Adventure cigarette products, U.S. Grown Leaf provides adult consumers with an ultra-premium cigarette made with tobacco produced under the highest agricultural standards in the world.