<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.