<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000724571
<NAME> FRED'S, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-02-1996
<CASH>                                       1,401,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
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<OTHER-SE>                                  54,563,000
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<SALES>                                    300,069,000
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<CGS>                                      217,659,000
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