<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 18, 1998, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE 16 WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 18, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FORM 10-Q. QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-28-1999 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-18-1998 <CASH> 2,093,191 <SECURITIES> 500,000 <RECEIVABLES> 37,269,105 <ALLOWANCES> 835,000 <INVENTORY> 65,482,341 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 115,218,308 <PP&E> 177,155,208 <DEPRECIATION> 87,942,075 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 246,841,794 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 184,313,884 <BONDS> 38,254,124 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 613,742 <OTHER-SE> 23,660,044 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 246,841,794 <SALES> 139,209,326 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 139,209,326 <CGS> 120,541,485 <TOTAL-COSTS> 120,541,485 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 18,095,905 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,209,442 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,864,608) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,864,608) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,864,608) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.47) <EPS-DILUTED> (.47)