<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-03-1998 <PERIOD-START> AUG-29-1997 <PERIOD-END> FEB-26-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 13,263 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 44,914 <ALLOWANCES> 1,835 <INVENTORY> 23,384 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 86,884 <DEPRECIATION> 25,627 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 150,728 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 56,399 <BONDS> 175,312 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 24,000 <PREFERRED> 5 <COMMON> 5 <OTHER-SE> (109,251) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 150,728 <SALES> 145,681 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 128,091 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15,239 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (329) <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,680 <INCOME-TAX> 2,067 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 613 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 613 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0