<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              FEB-26-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-27-1994
<CASH>                                         1,053,620
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  89,573,992
<ALLOWANCES>                                   7,143,000
<INVENTORY>                                    81,218,991
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               176,309,504
<PP&E>                                         82,438,375
<DEPRECIATION>                                 38,010,257
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 243,963,423
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          74,480,535
<BONDS>                                        94,731,417
<COMMON>                                       234,324
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          2,235,959
<PREFERRED>                                    2,381,038
<OTHER-SE>                                     63,440,647
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   243,963,423
<SALES>                                        222,088,070
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               222,088,070
<CGS>                                          153,900,409
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  153,900,409
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               3,622,390
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             8,653,946
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                8,419,830
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,643,177
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            6,776,653
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,350,354
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.23