content: <PAGE>   1
  
                             FORM 144                                
                          UNITED STATES
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION          --------------------- 
                       WASHINGTON, DC 20549                    S.E.C. USE ONLY   
              NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES         Document Sequence No.
            PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES       ---------------------
                            ACT OF 1933                     CUSIP Number        
            ATTENTION: TRANSMIT FOR FILING 3 COPIES
                   OF THIS FORM CONCURRENTLY WITH           ---------------------
            EITHER PLACING AN ORDER WITH A BROKER TO        Work Location         
                 EXECUTE A SALE OR EXECUTING A SALE    
                  DIRECTLY WITH A MARKET MAKER.             ---------------------
  
  <TABLE>                                                                      
  <S>                                                          <C>                      <C>                   <C>            <C>
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1(a) Name of Issuer                                         (b) I.R.S. Ident. No.    (c) S.E.C. File No.
        Keebler Foods Company                                      36-383-9586              001-13705 
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1(d) Address of Issuer                   Street           City           State           Zip Code             (e) Telephone No.
                                                                                                              ------------------------
                                                                                                              Area Code      Number
                          677 Laroh Avenue                   Elmhurst,        IL               60126
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2(a) Name of Person For Whose Account   (b) Social Security   (c) Relationship   (d) Address    Street    City    State    Zip Code
        the Securities are to be Sold          No. or I.R.S.         to Issuer
                                               Ident. No.
        James T. Spear                         ###-##-####            Officer         844 Williamsburg Dr.   Naperville, IL   60540
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  </TABLE> 
   
   INSTRUCTION: THE PERSON FILING THIS NOTICE SHOULD CONTACT THE ISSUER TO OBTAIN
                          THE I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
                             AND THE S.E.C. FILE NUMBER
  <TABLE>
  <S>                   <C>                                          <C>                 <C>                  <C>
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         3(a)                            (b)                                                    (c)                  (d)
     Title of the          Name and Address of Each Broker           S.E.C. USE ONLY     Number of Shares         Aggregate
       Class of         Through Whom the Securities Are to be        ---------------      or Other Units           Market
      Securities         Offered or Each Market Maker Who is          Broker-Dealer         to be Sold              Value
      to be Sold               Acquiring the Securities                File Number       (See Instr. 3(c))    (See Instr. 3(d))
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Keebler Foods             Harris Investor Direct                                          10,000                 $340,000
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock              111 W. Monroe 19 East
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Chicago, IL 60603
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                   <C>                      <C>                    <C>          
         3(a)                (e)                      (f)                    (g)         
     Title of the       Number of Shares            Approximate            Name of Each  
       Class of          or Other Units             Date of Sale            Securities   
      Securities           Outstanding           (See Instr. 3(f))           Exchange    
      to be Sold        (See Instr. 3(e))         (Mo., Day, Yr.)       (See Instr. 3(g))
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           83,987,487                11/11/98             NYSE
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
  INSTRUCTIONS:
     1.  (a) Name of issuer
         (b) Issuer's I.R.S. Identification Number
         (c) Issuer's S.E.C. file number, if any
         (d) Issuer's address, including zip code
         (e) Issuer's telephone number, including area code
     2.  (a) Name of person for whose account the securities are
             to be sold
         (b) Such person's Social Security or I.R.S.
             Identification number
         (c) Such person's relationship to the issuer (e.g.,
             officer, director, 10 percent stockholder, or member
             of immediate family of any of the foregoing)
         (d) Such person's address, including zip code
     3.  (a) Title of the class of securities to be sold
         (b) Name and address of each broker through whom the
             securities are intended to be sold
         (c) Number of shares or other units to be sold (if debt
             securities, give the aggregate face amount)
         (d) Aggregate market value of the securities to be sold
             as of a specified date within 10 days prior to the
             filing of this notice
         (e) Number of shares or other units of the class
             outstanding, or if debt securities the face amount
             thereof outstanding, as shown by the most recent
             report or statement published by the issuer
         (f) Approximate date on which the securities are to be
             sold
         (g) Name of each securities exchange, if any, on which
             the securities are intended to be sold
  </TABLE>
  
  <PAGE>   2
  
                                TABLE I AND TABLE II
   
                           TABLE I--SECURITIES TO BE SOLD
      FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE
                           SECURITIES TO BE SOLD AND WITH
      RESPECT TO THE PAYMENT OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OR OTHER
                              CONSIDERATION THEREFOR:
  
  <TABLE>
  <S>              <C>         <C>                      <C>                        <C>               <C>          <C>
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Title of    Date You    Nature of Acquisition    Name of Person From        Amount of         Date of      Nature of Payment
      the Class    Acquired       Transaction            Whom Acquired             Securities        Payment                        
                                                        (If gift, also give        Acquired  
                                                        date donor acquired)
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Keebler Foods    May 3, 1996    100% Purchased for      Keebler Foods Company     10,000           May 3, 1996    Cash
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock                        Cash                      Issurer
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
   1. If the securities were purchased and full payment therefore was not made in
      cash at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the
      nature of the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any
      note or other obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe
      the arrangement and state when the note or other obligation was discharged
      in full or the last installment paid.
   2. If within two years after the acquisition of the securities the person for
      whose account they are to be sold had any short positions, put or other
      option to dispose of securities referred to in paragraph (d)(3) of Rule 144,
      furnish full information with respect thereto.
   
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
               TABLE II--SECURITIES SOLD DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS
       FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO ALL SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
                            SOLD DURING THE PAST THREE
       MONTHS BY THE PERSON FOR WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SECURITIES ARE TO BE SOLD:
  
  <S>                                       <C>                              <C>                 <C>               <C>
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Name and Address of Seller             Title of Securities Sold         Date of Sale         Amount of        Gross Proceeds
                                                                                                 Securities                      
                                                                                                    Sold                         
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  REMARKS:
   
  INSTRUCTIONS:
   See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to
   be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be
   sold but also as to all other persons included in that definition. In addition,
   information shall be given as to sales by all persons whose sales are required
   by paragraph (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the
   person filing this notice.
                                   Nov. 11, 1998
                      ----------------------------------------
                                  (Date of Notice)
  ATTENTION:
   The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to
   be sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any
   material adverse information in regard to the current and prospective
   operations of the issuer of the securities to be sold which has not been
   publicly disclosed.
                                 /s/ James T. Spear
                      ----------------------------------------
                                    (Signature)
   
   The notice shall be signed by the person for whose account the securities are
                           to be sold. At least one copy
    of the notice shall be manually signed. Any copies not manually signed shall
                         bear typed or printed signatures.
   
    ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSION OF FACTS CONSTITUTE FEDERAL
                     CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).
   
  </TABLE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 144", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12172}]
text: 1
  
                             FORM 144                                
                          UNITED STATES
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION          --------------------- 
                       WASHINGTON, DC 20549                    S.E.C. USE ONLY   
              NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES         Document Sequence No.
            PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES       ---------------------
                            ACT OF 1933                     CUSIP Number        
            ATTENTION: TRANSMIT FOR FILING 3 COPIES
                   OF THIS FORM CONCURRENTLY WITH           ---------------------
            EITHER PLACING AN ORDER WITH A BROKER TO        Work Location         
                 EXECUTE A SALE OR EXECUTING A SALE    
                  DIRECTLY WITH A MARKET MAKER.             ---------------------
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1(a) Name of Issuer                                         (b) I.R.S. Ident. No.    (c) S.E.C. File No.
        Keebler Foods Company                                      36-383-9586              001-13705 
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1(d) Address of Issuer                   Street           City           State           Zip Code             (e) Telephone No.
                                                                                                              ------------------------
                                                                                                              Area Code      Number
                          677 Laroh Avenue                   Elmhurst,        IL               60126
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2(a) Name of Person For Whose Account   (b) Social Security   (c) Relationship   (d) Address    Street    City    State    Zip Code
        the Securities are to be Sold          No. or I.R.S.         to Issuer
                                               Ident. No.
        James T. Spear                         ###-##-####            Officer         844 Williamsburg Dr.   Naperville, IL   60540
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  INSTRUCTION: THE PERSON FILING THIS NOTICE SHOULD CONTACT THE ISSUER TO OBTAIN
                          THE I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
                             AND THE S.E.C. FILE NUMBER
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         3(a)                            (b)                                                    (c)                  (d)
     Title of the          Name and Address of Each Broker           S.E.C. USE ONLY     Number of Shares         Aggregate
       Class of         Through Whom the Securities Are to be        ---------------      or Other Units           Market
      Securities         Offered or Each Market Maker Who is          Broker-Dealer         to be Sold              Value
      to be Sold               Acquiring the Securities                File Number       (See Instr. 3(c))    (See Instr. 3(d))
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Keebler Foods             Harris Investor Direct                                          10,000                 $340,000
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock              111 W. Monroe 19 East
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Chicago, IL 60603
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3(a)                (e)                      (f)                    (g)         
     Title of the       Number of Shares            Approximate            Name of Each  
       Class of          or Other Units             Date of Sale            Securities   
      Securities           Outstanding           (See Instr. 3(f))           Exchange    
      to be Sold        (See Instr. 3(e))         (Mo., Day, Yr.)       (See Instr. 3(g))
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           83,987,487                11/11/98             NYSE
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
  INSTRUCTIONS:
     1.  (a) Name of issuer
         (b) Issuer's I.R.S. Identification Number
         (c) Issuer's S.E.C. file number, if any
         (d) Issuer's address, including zip code
         (e) Issuer's telephone number, including area code
     2.  (a) Name of person for whose account the securities are
             to be sold
         (b) Such person's Social Security or I.R.S.
             Identification number
         (c) Such person's relationship to the issuer (e.g.,
             officer, director, 10 percent stockholder, or member
             of immediate family of any of the foregoing)
         (d) Such person's address, including zip code
     3.  (a) Title of the class of securities to be sold
         (b) Name and address of each broker through whom the
             securities are intended to be sold
         (c) Number of shares or other units to be sold (if debt
             securities, give the aggregate face amount)
         (d) Aggregate market value of the securities to be sold
             as of a specified date within 10 days prior to the
             filing of this notice
         (e) Number of shares or other units of the class
             outstanding, or if debt securities the face amount
             thereof outstanding, as shown by the most recent
             report or statement published by the issuer
         (f) Approximate date on which the securities are to be
             sold
         (g) Name of each securities exchange, if any, on which
             the securities are intended to be sold
  2
  
                                TABLE I AND TABLE II
   
                           TABLE I--SECURITIES TO BE SOLD
      FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE
                           SECURITIES TO BE SOLD AND WITH
      RESPECT TO THE PAYMENT OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OR OTHER
                              CONSIDERATION THEREFOR:
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Title of    Date You    Nature of Acquisition    Name of Person From        Amount of         Date of      Nature of Payment
      the Class    Acquired       Transaction            Whom Acquired             Securities        Payment                        
                                                        (If gift, also give        Acquired  
                                                        date donor acquired)
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Keebler Foods    May 3, 1996    100% Purchased for      Keebler Foods Company     10,000           May 3, 1996    Cash
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock                        Cash                      Issurer
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  INSTRUCTIONS:
   1. If the securities were purchased and full payment therefore was not made in
      cash at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the
      nature of the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any
      note or other obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe
      the arrangement and state when the note or other obligation was discharged
      in full or the last installment paid.
   2. If within two years after the acquisition of the securities the person for
      whose account they are to be sold had any short positions, put or other
      option to dispose of securities referred to in paragraph (d)(3) of Rule 144,
      furnish full information with respect thereto.
   
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
               TABLE II--SECURITIES SOLD DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS
       FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO ALL SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
                            SOLD DURING THE PAST THREE
       MONTHS BY THE PERSON FOR WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SECURITIES ARE TO BE SOLD:
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Name and Address of Seller             Title of Securities Sold         Date of Sale         Amount of        Gross Proceeds
                                                                                                 Securities                      
                                                                                                    Sold                         
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  REMARKS:
   
  INSTRUCTIONS:
   See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to
   be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be
   sold but also as to all other persons included in that definition. In addition,
   information shall be given as to sales by all persons whose sales are required
   by paragraph (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the
   person filing this notice.
                                   Nov. 11, 1998
                      ----------------------------------------
                                  (Date of Notice)
  ATTENTION:
   The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to
   be sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any
   material adverse information in regard to the current and prospective
   operations of the issuer of the securities to be sold which has not been
   publicly disclosed.
                                 /s/ James T. Spear
                      ----------------------------------------
                                    (Signature)
   
   The notice shall be signed by the person for whose account the securities are
                           to be sold. At least one copy
    of the notice shall be manually signed. Any copies not manually signed shall
                         bear typed or printed signatures.
   
    ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSION OF FACTS CONSTITUTE FEDERAL
                     CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).