<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-26-1998 <PERIOD-START> DEC-27-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-26-1998 <CASH> 16,076 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 353,772 <ALLOWANCES> (10,850) <INVENTORY> 264,781 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 693,977 <PP&E> 135,047 <DEPRECIATION> (66,560) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 950,400 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 300,572 <BONDS> 188,274 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 398 <OTHER-SE> 456,798 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 950,400 <SALES> 1,418,968 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,418,968 <CGS> 978,979 <TOTAL-COSTS> 978,979 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 409,912 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,556 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,197 <INCOME-TAX> 12,483 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,241 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,241 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.39