<ARTICLE> 5 
<LEGEND> 
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND CASH
FLOWS AND ACCOMPANYING NOTES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES. 
</LEGEND> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
        
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-28-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1997 
<CASH>                                           8,753 
<SECURITIES>                                         0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                  216,798 
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,339 
<INVENTORY>                                    283,948 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               563,256 
<PP&E>                                         357,239 
<DEPRECIATION>                                 131,882 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 915,288 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          371,994 
<BONDS>                                        202,328 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0 
<PREFERRED>                                          0 
<COMMON>                                         2,184 
<OTHER-SE>                                     287,394 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   915,288 
<SALES>                                      2,595,873 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,595,873 
<CGS>                                        2,215,366 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,215,366 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               167,788 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,862 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,549 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,016 
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,236 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,780 
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0 
<CHANGES>                                            0 
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,780 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .15 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0