Alltrista Consumer Products Company Set to Integrate Trade Promotion with Order Management Through CROSSMARK/Gelco Alliance

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2004--CROSSMARK(R) announced today that Alltrista Consumer Products Company will adopt the integrated trade promotion and order management solution made possible through the recent alliance between CROSSMARK and Gelco. This comprehensive solution executes promotion planning, payments, tracking, and order processing. This integrated process also works seamlessly with the order management services provided through CROSSMARK's existing alliance with EDS. By linking Gelco's trade promotion management solution with CROSSMARK's and EDS' expertise in order management services, clients receive an end-to-end trade solution that increases accuracy and eliminates redundant processes.

Craig Rosenblum, CROSSMARK Vice President of Business Development, said, "We are delighted that Alltrista has chosen our solution and we intend to ensure its effectiveness for Alltrista and its trading partners."

Jesse Edelman, Alltrista Senior VP of Sales, states, "By having a single integrated process we expect to improve trade funds visibility and significantly reduce the potential for unauthorized deductions. In addition to increasing productivity, this heightened visibility should assist us in managing our trade dollars without adding infrastructure."

About Alltrista
Alltrista Consumer Products Company markets home canning products, plastic cutlery, kitchen matches, lighters, toothpicks, clothespins and craft items under the brand names of: Ball(R), Bernardin(R), Diamond, Forster(R), Kerr(R), and Lady Dianne(R) brand name products. For more information, please visit www.alltrista.com.

About CROSSMARK
CROSSMARK is a professional business services company providing members of the consumer goods industry with integrated solutions in the areas of sales, marketing, merchandising, technology and supply chain optimization. CROSSMARK employs more than 10,000 associates throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Additional information is available at www.crossmark.com.

About Gelco
Gelco Trade Management Group, a division of Gelco Information Network, has been the leading provider of trade management solutions to the consumer goods industry for more than 20 years. From on-the-spot payments in the field to enterprise-wide planning, execution, payments, reporting, and post-promotion evaluation, Gelco's comprehensive trade management solutions lower costs, streamline business process, and improve promotion execution for consumer goods manufacturers. For more information, visit www.gelcotrade.com.

Contact:
CROSSMARK
Guy Davis
guy.davis@crossmark.com
or
Gelco Information Network
Mark Osborn, 952-947-1596
mark_osborn@gelco.com