BRISTOL-MYERS, CLAIROL, MEAD TO JOIN RETAIL SALES FORCES

NEW YORK -- Bristol-Myers Squibb here announced earlier this month it will combine the U.S. retail sales groups of Bristol-Myers Products, Clairol and Mead Johnson Nutritionals, effective the first quarter of 1996.

ive advantage by offering customers a single point of contact for the full range of our hair care, personal care, nutritional and nonprescription health care products sold at retail," said Michael E. Autera, executive vice president at Bristol-Myers Squibb, in a press release.

This combination of the companies' retail sales groups, said Autera, "will result in swift, effective, simplified service and support for our customers, and expanded retail store coverage for our products."

Bristol-Myers Products, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Clairol offer more than 50 product lines in the United States, including: nonprescription medications such as Excedrin and Bufferin; hair-coloring lines such as Miss Clairol and Nice 'n Easy; infant formulas such as Enfamil and ProSobee; as well as personal care products such as Ban anti-perspirants and Keri lotions.

Teams from each company will create and implement information management systems as well as new processes and systems for order management, distribution, promotions and billing.