<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-22-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996 <CASH> 14,188 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 64,497 <ALLOWANCES> (4,562) <INVENTORY> 77,518 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 159,779 <PP&E> 120,403 <DEPRECIATION> (33,516) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 443,340 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,497 <BONDS> 282,058 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 169 <OTHER-SE> 51,975 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 443,340 <SALES> 200,328 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 200,328 <CGS> 133,342 <TOTAL-COSTS> 182,267 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,399 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,662 <INCOME-TAX> 366 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,296 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,296 <EPS-PRIMARY> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> .19