<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000925252 <NAME> SIGNATURE BRANDS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-28-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1997 <CASH> 2,017 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 46,814 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 40,479 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 95,311 <PP&E> 16,308 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 255,252 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,621 <BONDS> 159,900 <COMMON> 10 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,563 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 255,252 <SALES> 149,061 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 149,061 <CGS> 103,389 <TOTAL-COSTS> 139,202 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (248) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,557 <INCOME-PRETAX> 550 <INCOME-TAX> 326 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 224 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 224 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0