<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>                      
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING
     FROM 10-Q OF TRIARC COMPANIES,  INC. FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH
     30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000030697
<NAME>                        TRIARC COMPANIES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-30-1997
<CASH>                                         120,516
<SECURITIES>                                    58,460
<RECEIVABLES>                                   85,088
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     55,914
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               422,194
<PP&E>                                         215,444
<DEPRECIATION>                                 109,449
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 844,557
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          254,117
<BONDS>                                        487,612
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,398
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,370
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   844,557
<SALES>                                        192,086
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               205,401
<CGS>                                          125,883
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  125,883
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   666
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              15,702
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,985
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (3,052)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (1,177)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (1,177)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.04)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0