<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-02-2000 <PERIOD-START> NOV-28-1999 <PERIOD-END> AUG-26-2000 <CASH> 5,521 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 224,625 <ALLOWANCES> 4,918 <INVENTORY> 156,964 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 429,424 <PP&E> 763,752 <DEPRECIATION> 365,559 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,008,735 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 236,777 <BONDS> 250,579 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 306 <COMMON> 14,115 <OTHER-SE> 383,216 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,008,735 <SALES> 991,506 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 991,506 <CGS> 687,388 <TOTAL-COSTS> 229,383 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,219 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,250 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,999 <INCOME-PRETAX> 54,517 <INCOME-TAX> 20,171 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 34,896 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 34,896 <EPS-BASIC> 2.51 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.47