<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
     J.B.  Williams  Holdings,  Inc.  Financial  Statements  for the year  ended
     December  31, 1998 and is  qualified  in its  entirety by reference to such
     financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000929651
<NAME>                        J.B. Williams Holdings, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                               6,263
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       15,288
<ALLOWANCES>                                           550
<INVENTORY>                                         10,809
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    33,723
<PP&E>                                               3,254
<DEPRECIATION>                                       1,904
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      80,162
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               11,474
<BONDS>                                             50,345
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                             9,600
<OTHER-SE>                                           8,069
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        80,162
<SALES>                                             76,106
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    76,106
<CGS>                                               31,294
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       31,294
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    37,864
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   5,957
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        991
<INCOME-TAX>                                           410
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    991
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           581
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0