<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE J. B.
WILLIAMS  HOLDINGS,  INC.  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTERLY  PERIOD ENDED
APRIL 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000929651
<NAME>                        J.B. Williams Holdings, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                              1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                                 US $
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                      JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                        APR-03-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<CASH>                                                                    5,199
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            11,561
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                266
<INVENTORY>                                                              10,411
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         27,526
<PP&E>                                                                    3,728
<DEPRECIATION>                                                            2,047
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           75,458
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     7,910
<BONDS>                                                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                 10,800
<OTHER-SE>                                                                5,729
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                             75,458
<SALES>                                                                  14,209
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                         14,209
<CGS>                                                                     5,651
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                             5,651
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          8,986
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        1,503
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          (1,931)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                               (791)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      (1,931)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             (1,140)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           (114.00)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           (114.00)