<ARTICLE>     5
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           APR-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                JAN-25-1998
<CASH>                              21,805
<SECURITIES>                       146,121
<RECEIVABLES>                      190,092
<ALLOWANCES>                             0
<INVENTORY>                        162,512
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         0
<PP&E>                             459,987
<DEPRECIATION>                     183,141
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     956,341
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    0
<BONDS>                                  0
<COMMON>                            36,475
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<OTHER-SE>                         488,223
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       956,341
<SALES>                          2,208,163
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 2,208,163
<CGS>                            1,784,634
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    2,098,746
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       348
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   2,677
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    130,870
<INCOME-TAX>                        50,655
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 80,215
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                        80,215
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         2.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                         2.19
<FN>  Amounts for current assets and current
      liabilities are not shown since balance sheet
      is presented in nonclassified format.