<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
          SEPTEMBER 7, 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>                                                    SEP-07-1996
<CASH>                                                                2,450
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       106,557
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          5,383
<INVENTORY>                                                         124,362
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    248,510
<PP&E>                                                              123,755
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       66,931
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      334,941
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                43,558
<BONDS>                                                              59,536
<COMMON>                                                             28,316
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          191,988
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        334,941
<SALES>                                                             298,461
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    298,461
<CGS>                                                               205,808
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       205,808
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    2,119
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      23,442
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          7,266
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  16,176
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         16,176
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .57