<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from Form 10-Q
for the  twenty-six  week Period  ended March 28, 1999 and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-26-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-28-1999
<CASH>                                               6,508
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      117,889
<ALLOWANCES>                                         2,396
<INVENTORY>                                        170,094
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   338,672
<PP&E>                                             477,080
<DEPRECIATION>                                      65,889
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     921,692
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              188,851
<BONDS>                                            627,899
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               33,809
<PREFERRED>                                         15,000
<COMMON>                                             2,189
<OTHER-SE>                                          (3,481)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       921,692
<SALES>                                            526,253
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   526,253
<CGS>                                              472,737
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      472,737
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       162
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  33,186
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (28,572)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       (10,818)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                (16,506)
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       (16,506)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0