<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 6,
          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>                              SEP-06-1997
<CASH>                                          5,825
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 128,965
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,499
<INVENTORY>                                   175,585
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              324,693
<PP&E>                                        149,182
<DEPRECIATION>                                 71,237
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                441,462
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          62,930
<BONDS>                                       107,231
<COMMON>                                       43,109
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    217,190
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  441,462
<SALES>                                       419,336
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              419,336
<CGS>                                         292,220
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 292,220
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              3,195
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                31,265
<INCOME-TAX>                                   10,005
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            21,260
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   21,260
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .49