<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              YEAR                 9-MOS                   6-MOS            3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-28-1996          APR-28-1996             APR-28-1996      APR-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-28-1996          JAN-28-1996             OCT-29-1995      JUL-30-1995
<CASH>                                          28,529               24,165                  11,800           11,584
<SECURITIES>                                         0                    0                       0                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  146,040              145,445                  95,345           79,326
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,084                1,309                     573              553
<INVENTORY>                                    210,759              187,558                 183,563          149,181
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               420,407              379,659                 315,407          266,513
<PP&E>                                         536,589              558,168                 457,484          437,812
<DEPRECIATION>                                 163,866              157,154                 151,623          146,410
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 857,619              844,577                 671,450          602,619
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          332,381              296,415                 244,442          208,807
<BONDS>                                        188,618              198,968                 180,637          174,665
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000               30,000                  30,000           10,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0                    0                       0                0
<COMMON>                                         9,227                8,989                   8,437            8,417
<OTHER-SE>                                     233,290              216,705                 175,913          171,041
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   857,619              844,577                 671,450          602,619
<SALES>                                      2,383,893            1,510,127                 823,127          367,328
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,383,893            1,510,127                 823,127          367,328
<CGS>                                        2,203,626            1,397,373                 719,743          323,503
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,203,626            1,397,373                 719,743          323,503
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                    0                       0                0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                    0                       0               13
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              20,942               14,870                   9,541            4,292
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 30,251               19,475                   3,015          (3,738)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,465                6,667                     994          (1,144)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             19,786               12,808                   2,021          (2,594)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (3,900)              (3,900)                 (1,800)          (1,800)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                    0                       0                0
<CHANGES>                                            0                    0                       0                0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,886                8,908                     221          (4,394)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.44                 0.24                       0           (0.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.42                 0.23                       0           (0.13)