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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
Sun Coast Industries, Inc.:
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements
(No. 33-59652, 33-80238, 33-87538 and 33-87544) on Form S-8 of Sun Coast
Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries of our report dated August 22, 1997, relating
to the consolidated balance sheets of Sun Coast Industries, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of June 30, 1996 and 1997, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders' equity for each of the
years in the three year period ended June 30, 1997, and the related schedule,
which appears in the June 30, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of Sun Coast
Industries, Inc.
 
                                            KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
September 25, 1997