<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK>0000774492 <NAME>COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTORS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999 JUL-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-25-1998 JUL-26-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-23-1999 JAN-23-1999 <CASH> 0 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,939 5,939 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 39,073 39,073 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 45,929 45,929 <PP&E> 19,634 19,634 <DEPRECIATION> 7,810 7,810 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 94,165 94,165 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 29,484 29,484 <BONDS> 74,000 74,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> (14,762) (14,762) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 94,165 94,165 <SALES> 75,487 135,608 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 75,487 135,608 <CGS> 52,666 97,094 <TOTAL-COSTS> 16,108 30,445 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,389 3,103 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,988 3,928 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,414 1,617 <INCOME-TAX> 1,844 873 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,570 744 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,570 744 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0