<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ACCOMPANYING BALANCE SHEETS AS OF AUGUST 3, 1996 AND FEBRUARY 3, 1996; THE ACCOMPANYING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE 13 WEEK AND 26 WEEK PERIODS ENDED AUGUST 3, 1996 AND JULY 29, 1995; AND THE ACCOMPANYING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE 26 WEEK PERIODS ENDED AUGUST 3, 1996 AND JULY 29, 1995 FOR STAR MARKETS COMPANY, INC., AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-03-1996 <CASH> 751 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,884 <ALLOWANCES> 2,058 <INVENTORY> 62,215 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 97,285 <PP&E> 214,953 <DEPRECIATION> 26,956 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 454,251 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 77,879 <BONDS> 260,425 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 10,182 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 85,309 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 454,251 <SALES> 231,024 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 231,024 <CGS> 173,723 <TOTAL-COSTS> 53,334 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,267 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,310) <INCOME-TAX> 63 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (3,373) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,373) <EPS-PRIMARY> (674.60) <EPS-DILUTED> (674.60)