<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 22, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
          REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                  DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-22-1997
<CASH>                                                                4,995
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       126,048
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          5,194
<INVENTORY>                                                         145,721
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    289,672
<PP&E>                                                              135,835
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       69,017
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      395,025
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                68,193
<BONDS>                                                              71,039
<COMMON>                                                             42,490
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          201,835
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        395,025
<SALES>                                                             129,301
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    129,301
<CGS>                                                                90,912
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                        90,912
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      977
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       6,908
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          2,215
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   4,693
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          4,693
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .11