<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000875612 <NAME> AMERISERVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION, INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-26-1998 <PERIOD-START> DEC-28-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-26-1998 <CASH> 4,667 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 55,402 <ALLOWANCES> 23,852 <INVENTORY> 292,255 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 550,758 <PP&E> 280,343 <DEPRECIATION> 55,827 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,887,323 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 892,108 <BONDS> 850,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,887,323 <SALES> 7,420,951 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7,420,951 <CGS> 6,740,926 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,740,926 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 717,275 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,746 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 84,447 <INCOME-PRETAX> (145,632) <INCOME-TAX> 1,341 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (146,973) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (146,973) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0