<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q for the thirteen  week period  ended  December 27, 1998 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             SEP-26-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                SEP-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                  DEC-27-1998
<CASH>                                               3,638  
<SECURITIES>                                             0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                      114,635  
<ALLOWANCES>                                         2,596  
<INVENTORY>                                        153,766  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   321,458  
<PP&E>                                             467,273  
<DEPRECIATION>                                      52,968  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     903,726  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              171,222  
<BONDS>                                            621,884  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               32,601  
<PREFERRED>                                         15,000  
<COMMON>                                             2,173  
<OTHER-SE>                                           6,016  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       903,726  
<SALES>                                            272,803  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   272,803  
<CGS>                                              246,351  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      246,351  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        19   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  16,784  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (14,764)  
<INCOME-TAX>                                        (5,590) 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 (8,445)    
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0  
<CHANGES>                                                0  
<NET-INCOME>                                        (8,445) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0