<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE TWENTY-FOUR WEEK PERIOD ENDED
OCTOBER 12, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-03-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-12-1996
<CASH>                                          20,825
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  121,808
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,966
<INVENTORY>                                    172,958
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               331,256
<PP&E>                                         228,629
<DEPRECIATION>                                 103,985
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 627,911
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          304,580
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        68,974
<OTHER-SE>                                     156,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   627,911
<SALES>                                      1,493,023
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,493,023
<CGS>                                        1,337,504
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,337,504
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               112,060
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,259
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 41,796
<INCOME-TAX>                                    16,779
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             25,017
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,017
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.53