<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-26-1998 <PERIOD-START> DEC-28-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1998 <CASH> 23,539 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 442,428 <ALLOWANCES> 21,354 <INVENTORY> 1,026,934 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,584,651 <PP&E> 1,652,084 <DEPRECIATION> 723,254 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,014,213 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,230,197 <BONDS> 1,130,440 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 96,325 <OTHER-SE> 1,030,002 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,014,213 <SALES> 11,511,835 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 11,511,835 <CGS> 10,385,064 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,321,203 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 11,969 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 124,411 <INCOME-PRETAX> 54,252 <INCOME-TAX> 27,668 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 26,584 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,584 <EPS-PRIMARY> .70 <EPS-DILUTED> .70