<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> EXHIBIT 27.1 HENRY SCHEIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-START> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1996 <CASH> 7,500 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 104,859 <ALLOWANCES> (2,734) <INVENTORY> 87,897 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 225,550 <PP&E> 65,936 <DEPRECIATION> (35,120) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 303,733 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 101,495 <BONDS> 55,562 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 183 <OTHER-SE> 144,757 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 303,733 <SALES> 185,359 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 185,359 <CGS> 130,410 <TOTAL-COSTS> 130,410 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 50,245 <LOSS-PROVISION> 36 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 961 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,041 <INCOME-TAX> 1,783 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,464 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,464 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.13