<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC.
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED FEBRUARY 26, 1999 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF FEBRUARY
26, 1999 FROM THE COMPANY'S FORM 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       AUG-28-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                     AUG-29-1998       SEP-13-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       FEB-26-1999       MAR-27-1998

<CASH>                                                      66                82
<SECURITIES>                                                 0                11
<RECEIVABLES>                                              513               388
<ALLOWANCES>                                                18                12
<INVENTORY>                                                 59                62
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           731               604
<PP&E>                                                     247               243
<DEPRECIATION>                                             169               159
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           1,446             1,374
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      794               584
<BONDS>                                                  1,050             1,113
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0                 0
<COMMON>                                                    62                62
<OTHER-SE>                                                (568)             (623)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             1,446             1,374
<SALES>                                                  2,299             2,747
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         2,299             2,747
<CGS>                                                    2,124             2,632
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            2,124             2,654
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            67                73
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          44                36
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             72               (16)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                32                (5)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         40               (11)
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0               185
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0               (43)
<CHANGES>                                                    0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                40               131
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.64              4.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.63              4.02

<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>