<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FILED AS PART OF THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1999
<CASH>                                           2,974
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,696
<ALLOWANCES>                                       638
<INVENTORY>                                     97,656
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               132,036
<PP&E>                                         135,987
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 455,323
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           35,059
<BONDS>                                        127,907
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,726
<OTHER-SE>                                     232,159
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   455,323
<SALES>                                         71,233
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                71,233
<CGS>                                           61,033
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   61,033
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,709
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,351
<INCOME-TAX>                                       353
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,998
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,998
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.20