FLEMING READY TO TRY OUT NEW NONFOOD SCHEMATICS

JOEL ELSON

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Fleming Cos. here is rolling out to test sites the first shelf schematics developed under its new corporate nonfood category management program.

This month, Fleming teams began remerchandising sections of shampoos and conditioners, styling aids and colorings, lightbulbs and lighting accessories at about 15 corporate Fleming supermarkets located in various markets.

Fleming will monitor departments in this control store group during a 30-day test period. Based on the results, the schematics will be fine-tuned before planograms are introduced to Fleming's retail customers, said Tod Marks, corporate director, health and beauty care division. Marks was formerly marketing manager for the wholesaler's Sacramento, Calif., GMD division.

Just how many of Fleming's 3,000 to 4,000 supermarkets will get involved with category management in nonfood hasn't been determined, said Marks, who doesn't expect the program to be implemented by most retailers until after the New Year. The national rollout of the program "will be driven at store level," Marks added. "Planograms could vary based on store size and reflect the products consumers in those areas want, not necessarily on what the best selling items are," he added.

Meanwhile, Fleming Cos. continues to add staff to its centralized nonfood category management at its corporate head-

quarters here.

Marks and Mike Poe, who remains corporate director of general merchandise, report to Andy Anderson, corporate senior vice president of nonfood.

Newly appointed HBC category

managers are: John Wright, beauty care, Barbara Holland, beauty care and cosmetics, David Spohr, over the counter, and Jim Knebel, health care. Both Spohr and Holland had been nonfood buyer merchandisers in the Dallas GMD division. Wright was sales manager in the Oklahoma City food division, and Knebal had been a nonfood category manager at Albertson's in Boise, Idaho. In addition, Lisa Young has been appointed to HBC buyer. She most recently was promotional manager at the GMD operation, Topeka, Kan.

New general merchandise category managers are: Scott Weaver, hard lines; Ron Pitchford, housewares; Bruce Ekstrom, stationary and sundries, and Gene Wochner, imports and seasonal programs.

Weaver was merchandising manager in the Buffalo (Scrivner) division; Bruce Ekstrom transferred from Fleming's GMD division in La Crosse, Wis., and Gene Wochner was senior merchandiser at the GMD division, Dallas. Ron Pitchford worked at EKCO Housewares in sales.

Fleming still has eight buying positions left to fill in nonfood, with more moves from other divisions expected.