<ARTICLE>                                                                 5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
          FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
          WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
          MARCH 23, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
          SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                  DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-23-1996
<CASH>                                                                8,920
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        78,746
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          3,450
<INVENTORY>                                                         106,162
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    228,315
<PP&E>                                                              112,473
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       63,979
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      299,198
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                38,685
<BONDS>                                                              42,569
<COMMON>                                                             18,866
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          188,706
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        299,198
<SALES>                                                              83,842
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     83,842
<CGS>                                                                58,519
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                        58,519
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      626
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       4,938
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          1,545
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   3,393
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          3,393
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .18