<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                         YEAR  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      OCT-31-1995                  OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                         NOV-01-1994                  NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                           OCT-31-1995                  OCT-31-1996
<CASH>                                                   1,140                             6,389
<SECURITIES>                                                 0                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                           53,274                            44,512 
<ALLOWANCES>                                             (586)                             (350)    
<INVENTORY>                                            123,359                           121,036 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       183,536                           176,900 
<PP&E>                                                  99,767                           102,267 
<DEPRECIATION>                                          37,005                            44,170 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         372,682                           360,185 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                   85,445                            77,699 
<BONDS>                                                 75,126                            75,155 
<COMMON>                                                     0                                 0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0                                 0 
<PREFERRED>                                              5,000                             5,000 
<OTHER-SE>                                             (1,433)                           (3,367)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                           372,682                           360,185 
<SALES>                                                238,200                           243,670 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       238,200                           243,670 
<CGS>                                                  202,995                           211,938 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          202,995                           211,938 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             0                                 0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0                                 0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       4,715                             8,179 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          4,858                           (1,554) 
<INCOME-TAX>                                             2,606                               380 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      2,252                           (1,934) 
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0                                 0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          2,965                                 0 
<CHANGES>                                                    0                                 0 
<NET-INCOME>                                             5,217                           (1,934)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0                                 0 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0                                 0