Carol May, President of Wisdom Natural Brands®, parent company of the leading stevia brand SweetLeaf®, was honored with an unprecedented three coveted awards in the last week— two international awards at the 10th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business as well as a leading businesswoman in the grocery industry from Progressive Grocer.
At the celebration for the worldwide Stevie Awards, held in New York City on Nov. 8, May received the Silver Award for Lifetime Achievement in Business (across all industries), as well as a Bronze Award for Female Executive of the Year in Consumer Products.
Established in 2002, the Stevie Awards (from the Greek “stephanos,” meaning crown) mark achievement throughout the world of business. The Women in Business Awards are the world’s premier awards for women executives and entrepreneurs, and the organizations they run. Like the Olympics, the awards given are Gold, Silver and Bronze.
In addition, May received an award on Nov. 5 as one of Progressive Grocer Magazine’s Top Women in Grocery for 2013. Selected in the Senior Executives category, May was one of the few from a product manufacturer – rather than a grocery retailer or business services firm – considered to be changing the industry.
These awards recognize Carol May’s work as president of Wisdom Natural Brands. Overseeing strategy, operations, finance, sales, marketing, branding and new product development, May has been integral in moving Wisdom Natural Brands from a small Arizona company to a multi-million dollar international brand that competes with the world’s largest companies in one of the hottest categories in the food industry. In addition, SweetLeaf Stevia® is the only stevia brand to win 11 international taste awards.
“It’s humbling to be recognized in such great company, across so many industries,” said May. “I am deeply honored by this Lifetime Achievement award and I am looking forward to so many more new horizons.”
A privately held company, Wisdom’s SweetLeaf Stevia® Sweetener is the top-selling stevia brand in natural food stores, commanding more than 40 percent share. Carol May has led the brand’s successful expansion from natural stores into mainstream grocers, and its introduction of new formats, SKUs and distribution channels that address changing consumer needs.
SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener is a natural stevia brand with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and zero glycemic index. It is sold in a variety of innovative formats: packets, tablets, liquid, flavor drops, water enhancers and a baking product bonded to cane sugar for cooking and baking. Wisdom also produces herbal teas under the Wisdom of the Ancients® brand.
