<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS OF SCHULTZ SAV-O STORES,  INC. AS OF AND FOR
THE YEAR ENDED  JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                         34,334,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  6,233,000 <F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0         <F1>
<INVENTORY>                                    23,951,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               71,279,000
<PP&E>                                         57,575,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 35,888,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 105,096,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          38,395,000
<BONDS>                                        3,021,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       438,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     52,647,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   105,096,000
<SALES>                                        484,885,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               484,885,000
<CGS>                                          406,815,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  0            <F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               64,580,000   <F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0            <F2>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             816,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                13,916,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,398,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            8,518,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   8,518,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.23

<FN>
<F1> Net of "Allowances for doubtful accounts".
<F2> Amounts included in "Other costs and expenses".
</FN>