The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 29

CLASSIFIED BUSINESS Local stocks 2E Mutual funds 3E Hunting for some fun? Try 133 recreation ads Pages 5-16E WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1996 FoodMax to be Bruno's Innovative production Spring Hill may be in on GM's next model another plant with a Saturn name-tag that's competing with us, we have some real concerns." Now, the automaker is looking for ways to involve the current Saturn workforce: The Spring Hill site may produce parts such as Saturn's famous dent-resistant plastic door panels for Innovate. Previously, GM planned to hire an outside supplier to make the panels. Saturn workers also may help Wilmington's work force draw up a contract similar to the one currently in place at Spring Hill. The Wilmington plant has a history of tense labor relations. But Saturn's "risk and reward" system gives workers salaries equal to 90 of other GM workers' hourly pay.

They earn the other 10 if they attend training classes and the plant meets quality goals. Workers also can earn bonuses if Saturn hits sales and production about two years. In July, USA TODAY reported that Spring Hill would not be involved in the project even though it makes a third of the parts on current Saturns. GM officials had cited the Spring Hill plant's full production schedule, and the capital investment that would have been required to add more capacity. Soon after, dealers began getting complaints from customers that the existing Saturn manufacturing team was being ignored.

And, predictably, workers in Spring Hill weren't too happy, either. "We've done everything they wanted us to do. We just want them to spend a little more money and we'll get some more cars out of this building," said Ron Hankins, a two-decade GM employee and Spring Hill's mayor. "Where will we be four years from now? If we have By BILL CAREY Staff Writer Bruno's which owns grocery stores under the names FoodMax and Bruno's, is apparently changing its Nashville-area FoodMax stores to the more upscale Bruno's format Bruno's spokeswoman Lisa Krantz would not confirm this, only saying "it's a part of our business plan, and at this point we can't comment on that" But industry experts believe Bruno's is changing its FoodMax stores to the Bruno's format be-. cause the company plans to op-l erate its two new stores near Bellevue Center and CoolSprings Galleria as Bruno's.

Oddly enough, Krantz won't confirm that either, despite the fact that even employees at the Bellevue location which opens in late October identify the store by the name "Bruno's" hen they answer the phone. Meanwhile, developers and real estate agents in the CoolSprings area have been told for months that the store now under con i ij i Williams Printing sold to investors A management-led investors' group has purchased the assets of 85-year-old Williams Printing Co. of Nashville. The new company, American Corporate Literature is headed by Turney Stevens Williams chief executive officer. 1 Other individual investors, in addition to Williams' senior managers, include former ColumbiaHCA chairman Clayton McWhorter, and I Sam Bartholomew, senior partner of law firm Stokes Bartholomew.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a statement Stevens said the company will focus on product and marketing literature for national, regional and local corporate clients. "We are now in a position to realize our vision of providing a comprehensive total solution to our customers who are increasingly asking us to assist them as partners rather than simply as vendors," he said. American Corporate Literature will have three operating units: digital services, printing and binding services, and distributionfulfillment services. All will receive new capital investment due to the purchase, officials said.

The company has 90 employees, and will continue to be based at Williams' plant and office on Cowan Street MICHAEL DAVIS struction next to the Home Depot there will be under the Bruno's format That being the case, industry experts say the chain will likely change its five Nashville-area FoodMax stores to the Bruno's name because it makes no sense for the company to operate two formats here. "If they operate two chains in one market they would have to advertise for two instead of one," said Michael Kirkpatrick, an analyst with Menham Capital Group. "You also have the cost of two management structures. Bruno's stores are more upscale than FoodMax stores, translating into things like a better deli, more emphasis on fresh meats and produce section and better service. By comparison, FoodMax stores emphasize a "no frills, everyday low price format" Kirkpatrick said.

In 1994, Bruno's converted 11 FoodMax stores in suburban Atlanta to the Bruno's format. First flight Capt. Joe Luttinger, left, and flight for Delta Express' first flight out yesterday morning. The new "A lot of programs have done client rewards, but not across multiple products," said Brian Cooper, executive vice president and director of marketing. For example, a typical small business with a $150,000 working capital loan, $150,000 in total savings and a $12,000 business checking account would earn enough points in one year to get a free round-trip airline ticket and some luggage or other merchandise.

But customers with few financial resources wont see such big prizes. For example, a household with $2,000 in a checking account, a $1,000 line of credit and a $3,000 credit card balance would earn enough points in one year for a 'it'. By MICHAEL DAVIS Staff Writer ana Gannett News Service Saturn Midstate workers may not be entirely out of the loop on the automaker's next model, after all. Employees at Saturn's Spring Hill plant may produce some parts for the Delaware-built Innovate midsize car, and even help Innovate's workers devise the kind of unique labor-management agreement in place at the existing plant The Innovate, set for introduction in 1999 for the 2000 model year, will be based on GM's European-designed Opel Vectra. The project is Saturn's attempt to lure more trade-up, family-car buyers with a larger sedan than the current compact offerings.

The car will be manufactured in Wilmington, at a GM plant that formerly produced Chevrolet's Be-retta and Corsica. Refitting to build the Innovate is expected to take attendant Elizabeth Conner prepare of Nashville International Airport carrier, operated by Delta Air 1 Minolta 35 mm camera. Meritz Corp. will administer the program, which features American Airlines, United Airlines and USAir for airlines tickets, Hertz and Avis for rental cars, Walt Disney World for vacations, Carnival and Royal Caribbean for cruises, and Marriott and Hyatt properties for hotel stays. First American started working on the new program about two years ago.

Its research found that customers liked the idea of cash, merchandise and travel options that could be earned on a variety of banking products. Customers also liked the program's monthly statement that combines all its accounts TENNESSEAN NEWS SERVICES Eli Lilly honored for supporting arts NEW YORK Eli Lilly's chair, man sees more than pretty pictures when he considers the pharmaceutical company's award-winning support for the arts. "Lilly believes there's a strong link between creativity fostered in the arts and scientific creativity," said Chief Executive Officer Randall L. Tobias. "If our scientists are stimulated through their involvement with the arts, then it's ultimately good for business." Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and which has given $30 million to the arts in two decades, was among seven companies honored yesterday for their support of the arts.

Economic signs mixed NEW YORK There were more mixed economic signs as a closely watched manufacturing report showed slower momentum but a forecasting tool reached another new high. The National Association of Purchasing Management's index fell to 51.7 in September from 52.6 in August It was reported yesterday. A reading above 50 is a sign of an expanding industrial economy. Steel workers strike WHEELING, W.Va. About 4,500 union workers at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.

vowed to remain on strike as long as it takes for the nation's ninth-largest steelmaker to agree to pension changes. Pickets formed outside eight Wheeling-Pitt facilities in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania after the deadline for a new contract for the United Steelworkers members expired at midnight Monday. Trooper sales plummet DETROIT Sales of the Isuzu Trooper plummeted 83 in the month after a magazine report that charged 1995-96 models of the sport utility vehicle have a tendency to roll over in sharp turns. Isuzu sold only 774 Troopers in September, compared with 4,870 in September 1995, according to figures released yesterday by American Isuzu Motors Inc. The 83 decline is based on the daily sales rate.

Kiwi Air to restructure NEWARK, NJ. Kiwi International Air Lines is laying off a third of its workers and cutting its schedule by two-thirds as It tries to restructure its finances under the protection of bankruptcy court Kiwi's chief executive yesterday said he is looking for outside Investors to put about $10 million Into the discount carrier to lift it out of Chapter 11. The company sought protection Monday. Schizophrenia drug OK WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for schizophrenia that doctors say could help patients who don't respond to existing medicines. Eli Lilly olanzapine, to be sold under the brand name Zyp-rexa, has not yet been adequately compared to existing medicines, so the FDA would not let the company advertise the drug as superior.

The approval came yesterday. IBM to sell chip factory IBM Corp. agreed to sell a Canadian factory that makes memory chips and other computer parts to Onex Corp. for about $540 million. The sale of the Celestica plant in Toronto to a Canadian company comes as IBM, the world's largest computer company, tries to refocus on businesses with the strongest potential for growth.

The agreement was announced yesterday. lVN tip tk I 4 1 REX PERRYSTAFF Lines, links eight cities in the Midwest and East to Florida. Delta Express is offering three departures a day out of Nashville to Orlando, Fla. First American has prizes for top customers il- Jt IT" First American's program rewards points for almost 100 different products. To be eligible, clients must have a First American checking account and one other account to be eligible.

Points can be accumulated for up to three years. Customers will receive one-time introductory loyalty points for the tenure of their relationships with First American, and then can receive points each month. "Our overall objective was to create a program for consumers and small businesses that provided them with more convenient ways to manage their finances and make their savings goals easier," Cooper said. "We also wanted to reward customers for consolidating their "Our overall objective was to create a program for consumers that provided them with more convenient ways to manage their finances." BRIAN COOPER First American Corp. and includes a "Goal Builder" system that tracks an individual's personal savings goals By STACEY HARTMANN Staff Writer Seeing how readily consumers gobbled up the frequent flyer mile offerings of the airline industry, First American Corp.

has decided to offer an even broader incentive program to reward customer loyalty- Nashville-based First American's new program is called "Select Rewards" because it awards individual and small-business customers points for the length, breadth and depth of their relationship with the bank. Those points earn them prizes, such as electronics, hotel stays and even cash. The program, which started yesterday, is free the first year and costs $20 a year after that NEWSMAKER David Jones has new CEO at SunTrust Bank, South Central Tennessee, assuming the position left vacant by retiring chairman and CEO Evan Davis. Jones is president and COO of the bank and has been with SunTrust since 1990. He previously worked for Third National Bank.

been JONES MARKETS BluC-Chip and large-company mea named the 22. sures edged to new highs yesterday as Interest rates fell in the bond market on the latest economic news. But technology shares slumped amid more profit-taking on Sep AGENDA "Becominq a Better Public Speaker," by the YWCA, two sessions beginning 7 p.m. tomorrow, YWCA, 1608 Woodmont Blvd. Fee is $35.

Info: 269-9922. "Technology for Today's Accountants," with Croley W. Graham CPA, and Doctor Crants, Corrections Corporation of America, Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, 4:45 p.m. next Tuesday, Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Fee: $20.

Register by tomorrow, 377-3825. BANKING The NationsBank branch at 109 Ninth Ave. will close Dec. 5 as the bank consolidates a few properties, said Fred Hannon, NationsBank spokesman. The most convenient bank to downtown customers will be at 1634 Church which has an automated teller machine and drive-up window.

Employees at the closed branch will be moved to positions In other branches, Hannon said. Also, NationsBank's new branch at 1013 16th Ave. S. is set to open Oct 28 and will be geared toward executive and group banking. SECTION EDITORS Emme Nelson Baxter, Regional EditorBusiness, 259-8096.

Candy McCampbell, Personal Finance Editor, 259-8076. For information or questions, call Monday through Friday, 9 am. to 5 p.m. tember's rally. Despite the records, stocks struggled through much of the session.

The Bloomberg Tennessee Index was 152.32, down .70. Story, tablet on 4L.