<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED APRIL 20, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000352949 <NAME> FLEMING COMPANIES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-20-1996 <CASH> 24,752 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 391,152 <ALLOWANCES> 40,189 <INVENTORY> 1,080,705 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,555,751 <PP&E> 1,535,168 <DEPRECIATION> 567,277 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,174,054 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,153,687 <BONDS> 1,369,715 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 94,468 <OTHER-SE> 984,750 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,174,054 <SALES> 5,168,234 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,168,234 <CGS> 4,711,114 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,092,627 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 7,751 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 55,760 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,096 <INCOME-TAX> 6,181 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,915 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,915 <EPS-PRIMARY> .16 <EPS-DILUTED> .16