<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC.
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
COMPANY'S  THIRTEEN  WEEKS  ENDED  NOVEMBER  27,  1998  CONDENSED   CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF NOVEMBER
27,  1998 FROM THE  COMPANY'S  FROM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            OTHER            OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-03-1999      JAN-02-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                     AUG-29-1998      SEP-13-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       NOV-27-1998      JAN-02-1998

<CASH>                                                      76              139
<SECURITIES>                                                 1                9
<RECEIVABLES>                                              553              487
<ALLOWANCES>                                                18               12
<INVENTORY>                                                 59              116
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           783              914
<PP&E>                                                     241              763
<DEPRECIATION>                                             169              258
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           1,496            5,009
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      819            1,149
<BONDS>                                                  1,090            1,829
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0                0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0                0
<COMMON>                                                    62               32
<OTHER-SE>                                               (591)            1,431
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             1,496            5,009
<SALES>                                                  1,209            1,636
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         1,209            1,636
<CGS>                                                    1,108            1,560
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            1,108            1,582
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            34               30
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          23               20
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             52                4
<INCOME-TAX>                                                23                4
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         29                0
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0              108
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0                0
<CHANGES>                                                    0                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                29              108
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.46             3.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.45             3.29

<FN>
On April 15, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company  approved the change of
the fiscal year of the Company to the Friday  nearest to August 31 of each year.
Prior to this  change in fiscal  year,  the  Company's  fiscal year ended on the
Friday nearest to December 31 of each year.
</FN>