<ARTICLE>                  5                                                  
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AND THE  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FILED AS
PART OF THE  QUARTERLY  REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
       
                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                       SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                         MAY-31-1996
<CASH>                                                                    1,604
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            20,285
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                365
<INVENTORY>                                                             102,057
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        133,222
<PP&E>                                                                  249,348
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           97,004
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          347,022
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    38,313
<BONDS>                                                                  54,006
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                 10,389
<OTHER-SE>                                                              209,152
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            347,022
<SALES>                                                                 241,262
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        241,262
<CGS>                                                                   205,449
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           218,933
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           (743)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                            164
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        3,001
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          22,555
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              7,527
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      15,028
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             15,028
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                 2
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                 2