<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE THIRD QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 7, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000352949 <NAME> FLEMING COMPANIES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> OCT-07-1995 <CASH> 4,750 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 403,326 <ALLOWANCES> 49,497 <INVENTORY> 1,153,673 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,597,418 <PP&E> 1,473,398 <DEPRECIATION> 535,960 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,216,678 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,315,571 <BONDS> 1,268,745 <COMMON> 94,152 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 995,766 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,216,678 <SALES> 13,351,305 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 13,351,305 <CGS> 12,290,313 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,114,303 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 24,344 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 135,046 <INCOME-PRETAX> 77,612 <INCOME-TAX> 39,660 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 37,952 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 37,952 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.01