<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the balance sheet as of September 30, 1998 and statements of income for the nine and three months ended September 30, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001025834 <NAME> Swisher International Group Inc <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000 1.000 <CASH> 1,405 1,405 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 38,766 38,766 <ALLOWANCES> 1,805 1,805 <INVENTORY> 78,147 78,147 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 123,977 123,977 <PP&E> 82,201 82,201 <DEPRECIATION> 10,410 10,410 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 263,401 263,401 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 42,547 42,547 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 341 341 <OTHER-SE> 108,219 108,219 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 263,401 263,401 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 204,244 73,738 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 103,392 38,279 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 748 872 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,738 2,043 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,787 14,607 <INCOME-TAX> 16,264 5,708 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 25,523 8,899 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 25,523 8,899 <EPS-PRIMARY> .75 .26 <EPS-DILUTED> .75 .26