<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000925252 <NAME> SIGNATURE BRANDS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-28-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-29-1997 <CASH> 1,270 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 45,843 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 38,262 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 91,573 <PP&E> 17,101 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 250,985 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 45,536 <BONDS> 149,156 <COMMON> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,648 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 250,985 <SALES> 213,255 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 213,255 <CGS> 147,565 <TOTAL-COSTS> 198,815 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (349) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,041 <INCOME-PRETAX> 748 <INCOME-TAX> 449 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 299 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 299 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0