<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK>0000774492 <NAME>COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTORS INC <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-25-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-27-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-25-1998 <CASH> 10,770 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,079 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 29,246 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 42,108 <PP&E> 16,544 <DEPRECIATION> 6,464 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 90,081 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,340 <BONDS> 80,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (14,386) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 90,081 <SALES> 248,242 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 248,242 <CGS> 173,648 <TOTAL-COSTS> 235,358 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 6,169 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,715 <INCOME-TAX> 3,678 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,037 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,067 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0