<ARTICLE>     5
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       6-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    APR-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                         OCT-26-1997
<CASH>                              22,723
<SECURITIES>                       161,882
<RECEIVABLES>                      175,483
<ALLOWANCES>                             0
<INVENTORY>                        148,077
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         0
<PP&E>                             456,479
<DEPRECIATION>                     178,471
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     945,671
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    0
<BONDS>                                  0
<COMMON>                            35,980
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<OTHER-SE>                         462,125
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       945,671
<SALES>                          1,497,543
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 1,497,543
<CGS>                            1,212,694
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    1,420,199
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       417
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   1,774
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     96,206
<INCOME-TAX>                        37,140
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 59,066
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                        59,066
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                         1.61
<FN>  Amounts for current assets and current
      liabilities are not shown since balance sheet
      is presented in nonclassified format.