<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>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-29-1996
<CASH>                                              92,851
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      112,637
<ALLOWANCES>                                        (2,903)
<INVENTORY>                                         97,600
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   329,078
<PP&E>                                              69,561
<DEPRECIATION>                                     (36,343)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     413,997
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              110,329
<BONDS>                                             28,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               221
<OTHER-SE>                                         272,698
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       413,997
<SALES>                                            380,081
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   380,081
<CGS>                                              267,202
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      267,202
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   101,705
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       389
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   2,309
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      9,990
<INCOME-TAX>                                         3,823
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  6,678
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         6,678
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.35