<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SDW HOLDINGS
CORPORATION'S CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE 9 MONTHS ENDED
JULY 3, 1996 & BALANCE SHEET AS OF JULY 3, 1996 FOUND ON PAGE 4 & 5, 
RESPECTIVELY, OF THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY
PERIOD ENDED JULY 3, 1996 & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-02-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-28-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-03-1996
<CASH>                                           1,800
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   37,800
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    220,600
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               292,300
<PP&E>                                       1,115,700
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,684,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          226,900
<BONDS>                                        902,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           84,500
<PREFERRED>                                     47,200
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     316,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,684,900
<SALES>                                      1,066,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,066,800
<CGS>                                          885,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  885,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              84,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,900
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,100)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  2,000
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,100)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.17)