FLEER TO CLOSE PHILLY PLANT, CUT 90 JOBS

     Fleer Corp. announced yesterday it would close its
Philadelphia plant responsible for making chewing gum and cutting
and packaging trading cards, according to this morning's
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.  Susan Warner reports the company will
shift gum production to another factory in Mississippi and
contract card-packaging to outside companies in other states.
William Hardie, Exec VP of Fleer, said the company wants to "get
out of manufacturing" and "focus on marketing."  Ninety jobs will
be lost.  Hardie noted that trading cards account for 85% of
Fleer's business.  Fleer is a division of Marvel (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 11/28).