<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 5, 1998 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE 40 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 5, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-27-1999 <PERIOD-START> MAR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-05-1998 <CASH> 6,264 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 467,532 <ALLOWANCES> (15,557) <INVENTORY> 1,283,196 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,816,798 <PP&E> 2,876,434 <DEPRECIATION> (1,205,006) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,357,351 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,801,541 <BONDS> 1,109,135 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 5,908 <COMMON> 150,670 <OTHER-SE> 1,112,824 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,357,351 <SALES> 13,219,590 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 13,219,590 <CGS> 11,884,239 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,884,239 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 5,342 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 94,345 <INCOME-PRETAX> 226,352 <INCOME-TAX> 89,394 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 136,958 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 136,958 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.12