<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 28, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
          TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-28-1998
<CASH>                                                                2,920
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       140,369
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          7,212
<INVENTORY>                                                         159,962
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    313,215
<PP&E>                                                              170,733
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       75,484
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      464,774
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                56,409
<BONDS>                                                             107,834
<COMMON>                                                             43,564
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          245,045
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        464,774
<SALES>                                                             148,514
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    148,514
<CGS>                                                               102,617
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       102,617
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    1,670
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       9,609
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          3,221
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   6,388
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          6,388
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.15