<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The
Yankee Candle Company, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Jan-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   Jul-03-1999
<CASH>                                              12,149
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        8,086
<ALLOWANCES>                                           505
<INVENTORY>                                         26,177
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   151,146
<PP&E>                                              72,730
<DEPRECIATION>                                      16,227
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     380,307
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               25,224
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                             1,041
<OTHER-SE>                                          33,276
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       380,307
<SALES>                                             87,962
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    87,962
<CGS>                                               39,409
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       57,142
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    12,262
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  10,883
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      7,770
<INCOME-TAX>                                         3,108
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  4,662
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         4,662
<EPS-BASIC>                                         0.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.10