<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000925252 <NAME> SIGNATURE BRANDS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-28-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-28-1997 <CASH> 890 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 54,314 <ALLOWANCES> 1,978 <INVENTORY> 39,607 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 100,992 <PP&E> 46,820 <DEPRECIATION> 29,222 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 259,710 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,971 <BONDS> 154,112 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (1,226) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 259,710 <SALES> 275,708 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 275,708 <CGS> 190,083 <TOTAL-COSTS> 256,598 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,350 <LOSS-PROVISION> 385,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,638 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,424) <INCOME-TAX> 788 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,212) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,212) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0