<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INTERIM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS FOR ALL
PERIODS PRESENTED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997             APR-30-1997             JAN-31-1997
<CASH>                                         952,498                 563,459               1,812,188
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               45,363,506              48,232,253              47,887,728
<ALLOWANCES>                                 2,411,379               2,827,395               2,668,456
<INVENTORY>                                 71,508,896              76,524,235              66,800,538
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           121,421,393             126,623,989             117,195,333
<PP&E>                                      52,439,740              51,599,353              51,052,404
<DEPRECIATION>                              20,027,612              18,917,407              17,822,762
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             164,560,575             169,657,702             160,778,697
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       68,320,898              82,890,483              75,768,331
<BONDS>                                     27,689,690             22,116,555              23,507,855
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       173,771                 173,771                 173,771
<OTHER-SE>                                  67,698,656              64,318,246              60,970,846
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               164,560,575             169,657,702             160,778,697
<SALES>                                    633,836,343             465,201,402             306,575,184
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           633,836,343             465,201,402             306,575,184
<CGS>                                      506,567,663             371,517,403             244,535,898
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              506,567,663             371,517,403             244,535,898
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             2,112,015               1,687,889               1,528,950
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           5,976,262               4,745,048               3,508,216
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             17,026,701              11,598,091               6,154,113
<INCOME-TAX>                                 6,636,244               4,640,717               2,570,854
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          9,457,528               6,024,445               2,650,330
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                932,929                 932,929                 932,929
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 9,457,528               6,024,445               2,650,330
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.54                    0.36                    0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.54                    0.36                    0.17