<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-27-1997 <PERIOD-START> DEC-29-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-27-1997 <CASH> 4,941 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 102,230 <ALLOWANCES> (720) <INVENTORY> 53,201 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 189,306 <PP&E> 335,033 <DEPRECIATION> (107,123) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 524,550 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 84,051 <BONDS> 188,091 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 99,124 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 26,988 <OTHER-SE> 85,914 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 524,550 <SALES> 758,666 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 760,751 <CGS> 595,583 <TOTAL-COSTS> 595,583 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 138,196 <LOSS-PROVISION> 542 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,142 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,288 <INCOME-TAX> 7,187 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,101 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,101 <EPS-PRIMARY> .27<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> .26 <FN> <F1>For Purposes of This Exhibit, Primary means Basic. </FN>