NEWS ROUNDUP 1995-07-10 (2)

Sprint Launches Card Campaign

here has teamed up with General Mills, Minneapolis, to introduce its newly-branded prepaid calling card, Spree.

Under a $30 million promotion, Spree cards are included in General Mills' Basic 4, Raisin Nut Bran, Total Raisin Brand and all three varieties of Oatmeal Crisp. The calling cards, which are affixed to the inside of each cereal package, are good for five minutes of free long distance service.

The promotion is flagged on the front of the General Mills' cereal packages. Additionally, the entire back panel of the packages describe the campaign.

Spree cards, formerly called Instant Fonecards, are also being sold individually at supermarkets in $5, $10, $20, and $50 denominations. Lucky Stores Southern Division, Buena Park, Calif., is among several retailers that are selling them.

American Greetings Names Council

CLEVELAND -- The third American Greetings Research Council -- a group that seeks to address retail and marketing issues related to supermarket non-food products and services -- has been named. The members of the current council include: John Beissel, vice president, merchandising, Martin's Super Markets; Bill Bell, vice president & CEO, Randall Stores; Pat Curran, senior vice president, sales/merchandising, Delchamps; Anthony Federico, vice president, nonfoods, Ingles Markets; Bill Haraldson, executive vice president and CEO, Rosauers Supermarkets; Ken Johnson, vice president grocery and nonfoods, Hannaford Bros.; Brent Louth, vice president, merchandising, Overwaitea Food Group; Ron McDearmon, vice president, retail operations, Minyard Food Stores; Cecil Russell, vice president, marketing & merchandising, Save Mart Supermarkets; John Weckerly, vice president, marketing, the Copps Corp.