<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC. 10-Q FOR THE 12 AND 28 WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 9, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-24-2001 <PERIOD-END> SEP-09-2000 <CASH> 96394 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 191032 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 801034 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1166277 <PP&E> 1976000 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3363026 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1133815 <BONDS> 1055561 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38347 <OTHER-SE> 800357 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3363026 <SALES> 2439534 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2439534 <CGS> 1735281 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1735281 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 691844 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 22132 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8297) <INCOME-TAX> 2923 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5374) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5374) <EPS-BASIC> (.14) <EPS-DILUTED> (.14)