<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFRENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000935802 <NAME> ANICOM, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000 <CASH> 3,061 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 132,789 <ALLOWANCES> 4,001 <INVENTORY> 81,103 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 231,600 <PP&E> 11,263 <DEPRECIATION> 1,366 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 370,522 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 85,347 <BONDS> 91,656 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 20,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17 <OTHER-SE> 170,214 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 170,231 <SALES> 137,242 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 137,242 <CGS> 106,762 <TOTAL-COSTS> 106,762 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 23,801 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,530 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,149 <INCOME-TAX> 2,026 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,123 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,123 <EPS-PRIMARY> .12 <EPS-DILUTED> .12