<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE BODY OF THE ACCOMPANYING FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 2,575 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 76,250 <ALLOWANCES> 1,425 <INVENTORY> 46,706 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 162,249 <PP&E> 109,886 <DEPRECIATION> 3,087 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 320,954 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 79,982 <BONDS> 94,914 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 100 <OTHER-SE> 127,639 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 320,954 <SALES> 100,800 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 100,800 <CGS> 85,414 <TOTAL-COSTS> 85,414 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,284 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,942 <INCOME-TAX> 1,250 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,692 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,692 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.17