<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 30, 1997 AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED MARCH 30, 1997 OF AMERILINK CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1997 <CASH> 120,395 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,729,789 <ALLOWANCES> 171,000 <INVENTORY> 1,509,840 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,087,761 <PP&E> 5,928,062<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0<F1> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 26,211,111 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,408,699 <BONDS> 9,000,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,084,645 <OTHER-SE> 2,717,767 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 26,211,111 <SALES> 63,035,814 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 63,035,814 <CGS> 41,297,467 <TOTAL-COSTS> 59,734,363 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (7,047) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 617,004 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,691,494 <INCOME-TAX> 1,123,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,568,494 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,568,494 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.44 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.44 <FN> <F1> PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT IS REPORTED NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION ON THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET </FN>