SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
November 30, 1998
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Oklahoma 1-8140 48-0222760
(State or other juris- (Commission (IRS Employer
diction of incorporation) File Number) Identification)
6301 Waterford Boulevard, Box 26647
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73126
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(405) 840-7200
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events.
On November 30, 1998, Fleming issued the following press release:
FLEMING BOARD ELECTS MARK S. HANSEN
AS CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Former chief executive of Sam's Club to take the helm immediately
Oklahoma City, OK, Nov. 30, 1998 Fleming (FLM: NYSE)
announced today that Mark S. Hansen, former president and chief
executive officer of Sam's Club, has been elected as chairman of
the board of directors and chief executive officer of Fleming,
effective immediately. With nearly three decades in the food
retailing and distribution business, Hansen was chosen to lead
Fleming given his proven track record in achieving sales and
earnings growth.
Said Fleming Interim Chairman Edward C. Joullian III
who headed the search committee "With Mark's appointment, we
have found just the leader to restore Fleming's position in our
industry. He has been a customer-oriented executive with a
history of marketing and operating achievements for several of
today's most aggressive, innovative and successful retailers.
Mark's most recent accomplishments include repositioning the club
format as a domestic growth vehicle for Wal-Mart. His move to
Fleming marks a major win for our customers, the company and our
shareholders."
Hansen stated, "The board's decision represents a
milestone in my career and will afford me the opportunity to play
a leadership role in implementing Fleming's strategic plan to
reshape the company. As Fleming's chairman and chief executive
officer, my primary objectives are to support the success of our
customers and to improve Fleming's competitive position and long-
term earnings potential."
With the announcement of Hansen, Edward Joullian will
relinquish his title as interim chairman, for which he has served
the last four months, but will remain on the board. Fleming's
executive management team will report to Hansen.
Hansen in less than two years led an aggressive
campaign to improve the performance of Sam's Club, a division of
the Bentonville, AR-based Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. While at Sam's
Club, Hansen was credited with improving growth in sales and
income dramatically while implementing a comprehensive expense
reduction program.
Before joining Wal-Mart, Hansen served as president and
chief executive officer of Phoenix, AZ-based PetsMart, one of the
leading retailers of pet food, pet supplies and related services.
Under Hansen's command from 1989 to 1997, PetsMart's revenue grew
from $25 million to $2 billion. Additionally, the number of
stores increased from 12 to 350.
Hansen's list of accomplishments in the food retailing
industry also include management positions with both Arlington
Heights, IL-based Federated Foods, Inc. and Chicago-based Jewel
Companies, Inc.
At Federated Foods, one of the nation's leading private
label, perishables and logistics service providers, he doubled
sales volume while serving as executive vice president and chief
operating officer from 1984 to 1989. While at Jewel Companies
from 1979 to 1984, Hansen repositioned the diversified food and
drug store retailer's pharmacy marketing program, dramatically
accelerating its market share growth. Hansen also held
merchandising, marketing and procurement positions from 1972 to
1979 with Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and National Tea
Company. His first job was working for an independent grocer
during college.
Oklahoma City-based Fleming is one of the leading food
marketing and distribution companies, serving approximately 3,000
supermarkets including 280 company-owned stores across its
42-state service area, and employing 39,000 associates.
This release includes statements that (a) predict or
forecast future events or results, (b) depend on future events
for their accuracy, or (c) embody assumptions, which may prove to
have been inaccurate. These forward-looking statements and the
company's business and prospects are subject to a number of
factors which could cause actual results to differ materially,
including: adverse effects of the changing industry environment
and increased competition; continuing sales declines and loss of
customers; exposure to litigation and other contingent losses;
the results of the company's strategic planning process; failure
of the company to achieve necessary cost savings; failure to
develop and implement year-2000 system solutions; and negative
effects of the company's substantial indebtedness and the
limitations imposed by restrictive covenants contained in the
company's debt instruments. These and other factors are described
in the company's periodic reports available from the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including the company's 1997 Form 10-K
and subsequent quarter Form 10-Qs.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
FLEMING COMPANIES, INC.
KEVIN TWOMEY
Kevin Twomey
Vice President-Controller
Date: December 1, 1998
