<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
MIDAS GROUP'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001046131
<NAME> MIDAS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-26-1998 DEC-20-1997 DEC-14-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-26-1998 DEC-20-1997 DEC-14-1996
<CASH> 36,900 12,500 0
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 40,900 68,700 0
<ALLOWANCES> 1,500 3,000 0
<INVENTORY> 63,200 79,800 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 164,300 188,800 0
<PP&E> 254,000 334,500 0
<DEPRECIATION> 111,200 136,300 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 325,300 443,100 0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 63,300 107,000 0
<BONDS> 113,000<F1> 18,100<F5> 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0
<COMMON> 22,900 24,300 0
<OTHER-SE> 100,500 209,800 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 325,300 443,100 0
<SALES> 519,100 596,400 604,200
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 519,100 596,400 604,200
<CGS> 253,100 277,500 281,800
<TOTAL-COSTS> 505,200<F2> 597,200<F6> 526,200<F10>
<OTHER-EXPENSES> (38,800)<F3> 17,200<F7> 16,400<F11>
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,700<F4> 9,100<F8> 10,000<F12>
<INCOME-PRETAX> 40,000 (27,100) 51,600
<INCOME-TAX> 11,800 (3,600) 21,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,200 (23,500) 30,400
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 28,200 (23,500) 30,400
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.67 1.21<F9> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.63 1.21<F9> 0
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $10,800
AND $102,200, RESPECTIVELY.
<F2> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $253,100, $198,400 AND $55,700, RESPECTIVELY.
<F3> INCLUDES: GAIN ON SALE OF EUROPEAN OPERATIONS, WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER
EXPENSES OF ($38,000), $1,100 AND ($1,900), RESPECTIVELY.
<F4> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $500 AND $12,200
RESPECTIVELY.
<F5> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $14,600
AND $3,500, RESPECTIVELY.
<F6> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $277,500, $252,100 AND $67,600, RESPECTIVELY.
<F7> INCLUDES: WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF $18,100 AND ($900),
RESPECTIVELY.
<F8> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $6,800 AND
$2,300, RESPECTIVELY.
<F9> PRO FORMA BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE WERE CALCULATED USING
THE ASSUMPTIONS PRESENTED IN NOTE 1 OF THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<F10> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD AND S,G & A EXPENSES OF $281,800 AND
$244,400, RESPECTIVELY.
<F11> INCLUDES: WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF $17,200 AND ($800),
RESPECTIVELY.
<F12> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $7,300 AND
$2,700, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>