<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>                                                                1000
       
                                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         NOV-30-1996
<CASH>                                                                     5,349
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             21,533
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                 455
<INVENTORY>                                                               94,831
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         134,360
<PP&E>                                                                   263,529
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           102,408
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           428,667
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     51,542
<BONDS>                                                                   70,997
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                  10,348
<OTHER-SE>                                                               215,730
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                             428,667
<SALES>                                                                   82,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                          82,700
<CGS>                                                                     74,199
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                             78,874
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                            (98)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              35
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                           529
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                            4,122
<INCOME-TAX>                                                               1,341
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                        2,781
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                               2,781
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.27