<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 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000

                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-1999
<CASH>                                                       6,174
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               21,714
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   638
<INVENTORY>                                                 89,752
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           128,273
<PP&E>                                                     135,814
<DEPRECIATION>                                             141,980
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             445,629
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       35,620
<BONDS>                                                    119,826
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                     9,726
<OTHER-SE>                                                 229,918
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               445,629
<SALES>                                                    265,047
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           265,047
<CGS>                                                      236,270
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              236,270
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           6,971
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                              5,970
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 2,591
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          3,379
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                                 3,379
<EPS-BASIC>                                                   0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.34