<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the three fiscal years
ended December 31, 1994, December 30, 1995 and December 28, 1996 and for the
six months ended June 29, 1996 and June 28, 1997, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
<CIK> 0001042743
<NAME> AMERISERVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INC
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR YEAR 6-MOS 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1994 DEC-30-1995 DEC-28-1996 DEC-28-1996 DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-02-1994 JAN-01-1995 DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1995 DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1994 DEC-30-1995 DEC-25-1996 JUN-29-1996 JUN-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 1 1 1
<CASH> 0 575,000 2,162,000 0 3,413,000
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0 26,297,000 73,531,000 0 414,898,000
<ALLOWANCES> 0 (1,170,000) (4,896,000) 0 4,824,000
<INVENTORY> 0 15,230,000 47,714,000 0 150,759,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 44,496,000 126,588,000 0 577,694,000
<PP&E> 0 14,718,000 46,315,000 0 136,503,000
<DEPRECIATION> 0 (7,806,000) (12,478,000) 0 (14,271,000
)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 77,503,000 291,103,000 0 1,416,592,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 33,983,000 108,544,000 0 364,627,000
<BONDS> 0 32,779,000 126,639,000 0 990,075,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 15,000,000 45,000,000 0 45,000,000
<COMMON> 0 6,000 6,000 0 6,000
<OTHER-SE> 0 (4,849,000) (2,331,000) 0 (3,376,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 0 77,503,000 293,103,000 0 1,416,592,000
<SALES> 358,516,000 400,017,000 1,280,598,000 584,791,000 741,009,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 358,516,000 400,017,000 1,280,598,000 584,791,000 741,009,000
<CGS> (320,602,000) (359,046,000) (1,151,749,000) 525,780,000 668,544,000
<TOTAL-COSTS> (320,602,000) (359,046,000) (1,151,749,000) 525,780,000 668,544,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 34,488,000 36,695,000 114,560,000 53,328,000 67,133,000
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,294,000 3,936,000 10,999,000 5,281,000 7,243,000
<INCOME-PRETAX> 665,000 1,089,000 3,818,000 617,000 (1,674,000)
<INCOME-TAX> 523,000 583,000 1,300,000 340,000 (629,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 142,000 506,000 2,518,000 277,000 (1,045,000)
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 142,000 506,000 2,518,000 277,000 (1,045,000
)
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 0 0 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 0 0 0