<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000835676 <NAME> FOOD 4 LESS SUPERMARKETS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-28-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> APR-23-1995 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 16,924 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,391 <ALLOWANCES> (1,068) <INVENTORY> 208,848 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 257,995 <PP&E> 547,525 <DEPRECIATION> (163,712) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 971,240 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 338,394 <BONDS> 507,846 <COMMON> 107,665 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 67,512 <OTHER-SE> (120,176) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 971,240 <SALES> 623,598 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 623,598 <CGS> 516,430 <TOTAL-COSTS> 516,430 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 92,764 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,916 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,512) <INCOME-TAX> 300 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,812) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,812) <EPS-PRIMARY> (3.44) <EPS-DILUTED> (3.44)