<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000757523 <NAME> ARAMARK CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-27-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> JUN-28-1996 <CASH> 21,060 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 533,568 <ALLOWANCES> 16,529 <INVENTORY> 305,506 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 942,266 <PP&E> 1,543,545 <DEPRECIATION> 751,705 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,665,212 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 836,464 <BONDS> 1,311,902 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 5,396 <COMMON> 252 <OTHER-SE> 262,548 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,665,212 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,560,296 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,164,639 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 136,265 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,394 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 88,900 <INCOME-PRETAX> 111,989 <INCOME-TAX> 41,896 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 70,093 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2,758 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 67,335 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> $1.41