<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000875612 <NAME> AMERISERVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-25-1999 <PERIOD-START> DEC-27-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-26-1999 <CASH> 1,313 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 270,609 <ALLOWANCES> (21,587) <INVENTORY> 343,127 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 630,994 <PP&E> 319,128 <DEPRECIATION> (64,391) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,045,477 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,043,810 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (87,872) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,045,477 <SALES> 4,160,231 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,160,231 <CGS> 3,792,372 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,792,372 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 423,494 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,240 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43,642 <INCOME-PRETAX> (113,082) <INCOME-TAX> 872 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (113,954) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (113,954) <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0