<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM RIVER HOLDING CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-25-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-07-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-25-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 507 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,195 <ALLOWANCES> 635 <INVENTORY> 18,024 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 45,409 <PP&E> 51,155 <DEPRECIATION> (4,298) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 262,709 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> (15,544) <BONDS> (115,000) <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> (31,512) <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> (63,125) <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> (59,653) <SALES> (76,232) <TOTAL-REVENUES> (76,232) <CGS> 42,188 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,617 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 728 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,273 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,574 <INCOME-TAX> (614) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 960 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 960 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.0