<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from Form 10-K
for the fifty-two  week Period ended  September 26, 1999 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001037478
<NAME>                        The Fonda Group, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-26-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-26-1999
<CASH>                                             109
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   26,336
<ALLOWANCES>                                       725
<INVENTORY>                                     40,794
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                93,953
<PP&E>                                          77,277
<DEPRECIATION>                                  25,355
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 184,405
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           32,263
<BONDS>                                        132,892
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      13,331
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   184,405
<SALES>                                        262,837
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               262,837
<CGS>                                          225,509
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  225,509
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   419
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,926
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (2,445)
<INCOME-TAX>                                      (577)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (1,868)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (1,868)
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0