<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001061892 <NAME> RIVER HOLDING CORPORATION <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-25-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-25-1998 <CASH> 1,306 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 19,354 <ALLOWANCES> 391 <INVENTORY> 17,412 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 38,941 <PP&E> 47,845 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 259,118 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 16,939 <BONDS> 152,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 30,648 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 63,125 <OTHER-SE> (3,594) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 258,118 <SALES> 44,562 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 24,794 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,683 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (6,708) <INCOME-PRETAX> (6,955) <INCOME-TAX> (1,299) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,946) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,946) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0