<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
          DECEMBER 28, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
          TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                          YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                  DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                                                8,534
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       125,999
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          5,634
<INVENTORY>                                                         117,427
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    264,628
<PP&E>                                                              130,779
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       67,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      361,598
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                69,810
<BONDS>                                                              41,233
<COMMON>                                                             28,357
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          210,935
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        361,598
<SALES>                                                             511,029
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    511,029
<CGS>                                                               355,224
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       355,224
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    3,127
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      47,667
<INCOME-TAX>                                                         14,811
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  32,856
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         32,856
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          1.15