<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1998             DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1997             DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-26-1998             SEP-27-1997
<CASH>                                          30,271                  27,481
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  424,429                 287,592
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,178                   4,431
<INVENTORY>                                    336,205                 486,199
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               813,313                 812,757
<PP&E>                                          94,583                  86,366
<DEPRECIATION>                                 109,383                  74,491
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,158,646               1,004,089
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          598,959                 731,591
<BONDS>                                        141,500                  55,250
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,677                   1,157
<OTHER-SE>                                     412,524                 213,091
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,158,646               1,004,089
<SALES>                                      3,201,410               2,827,238
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,201,410               2,827,238
<CGS>                                        2,928,580               2,591,241
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,928,580               2,591,241
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               192,911                 181,822
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              25,685                  21,673
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 54,234                  32,502
<INCOME-TAX>                                    22,308                  13,319
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<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,926                  19,183
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.02                    1.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.71                    1.49