<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-30-1997 <CASH> 56,876 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 76,997 <ALLOWANCES> (3,479) <INVENTORY> 97,986 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 234,102 <PP&E> 134,189 <DEPRECIATION> (42,251) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 510,521 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 89,416 <BONDS> 225,446 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 227 <OTHER-SE> (50,890) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 510,521 <SALES> 233,689 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 233,689 <CGS> 148,477 <TOTAL-COSTS> 204,491 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,531 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,667 <INCOME-TAX> 2,647 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,020 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,020 <EPS-PRIMARY> .65 <EPS-DILUTED> .65