<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000768608 <NAME> Robert C. MacCready <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> USD <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Feb-23-1997 <PERIOD-START> Feb-26-1996 <PERIOD-END> May-26-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,502,093 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 58,216,594 <ALLOWANCES> 2,231,000 <INVENTORY> 83,719,033 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 147,025,436 <PP&E> 84,684,583 <DEPRECIATION> 44,847,311 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 209,000,891 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,645,747 <BONDS> 92,708,986 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 2,283,132 <PREFERRED> 1,977,905 <COMMON> 245,930 <OTHER-SE> 53,793,487 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 209,000,891 <SALES> 58,264,124 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 58,264,124 <CGS> 38,065,900 <TOTAL-COSTS> 38,065,900 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 18,705,357 <LOSS-PROVISION> 270,169 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,026,151 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,774,418) <INCOME-TAX> 80,025 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,854,443) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,077,571) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.09) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.09)