<ARTICLE> 5

<LEGEND>
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC.
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED MAY 28, 1999 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF INCOME AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MAY 28, 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>                                       MAY-28-1999       MAR-27-1998

<CASH>                                                      62                82
<SECURITIES>                                                 0                11
<RECEIVABLES>                                              470               388
<ALLOWANCES>                                                21                12
<INVENTORY>                                                 55                62
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           672               604
<PP&E>                                                     249               243
<DEPRECIATION>                                             171               159
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           1,376             1,374
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      720               584
<BONDS>                                                  1,030             1,113
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0                 0
<COMMON>                                                    62                62
<OTHER-SE>                                                (551)             (623)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             1,376             1,374
<SALES>                                                  3,462             2,747
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         3,462             2,747
<CGS>                                                    3,204             2,632
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            3,204             2,654
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           102                73
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          65                36
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             99               (16)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                44                (5)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         55               (11)
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0               185
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0               (43)
<CHANGES>                                                    0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                55               131
<EPS-BASIC>                                             0.89              4.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.87              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>