<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-27-1997
<CASH>                                          10,607
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  262,412
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,708
<INVENTORY>                                    356,716
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               715,049
<PP&E>                                         474,892
<DEPRECIATION>                                 416,618
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,548,820
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          363,088
<BONDS>                                        896,291
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,733
<OTHER-SE>                                    (27,823)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,548,820
<SALES>                                      1,851,180
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,851,180
<CGS>                                        1,196,030
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,626,902
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (27,817)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,230
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             103,349
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                148,746
<INCOME-TAX>                                    56,675
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             92,071
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (5,242)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    86,829
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.15