<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0001059697
<NAME>                        SF Holdings Group, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        SEP-24-2000
<PERIOD-START>                           SEP-27-1999
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-26-2000
<CASH>                                         5,631
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                139,936
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,173
<INVENTORY>                                  222,888
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             408,485
<PP&E>                                       472,366
<DEPRECIATION>                                98,622
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               949,401
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        491,271
<BONDS>                                      379,095
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         38,968
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                       2,251
<OTHER-SE>                                   (27,421)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 949,401
<SALES>                                      595,194
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             595,194
<CGS>                                        507,707
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                507,707
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            34,700
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (6,210)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (1,850)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (4,706)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (525)
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (5,231)
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0