<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE PEPSI
BOTTLING GROUP, INC. CONDENSED  COMBINED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE 12 WEEKS
ENDED MARCH 21, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001076405
<NAME>                        THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP, INC.
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-21-1998
<CASH>                                         83
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  808
<ALLOWANCES>                                   47
<INVENTORY>                                    289
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,328
<PP&E>                                         3,980
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,061
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 7,278
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1,070
<BONDS>                                        133
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     (185)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   7,278
<SALES>                                        1,340
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,340
<CGS>                                          777
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  777
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               3
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             52
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (13)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (7)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.11)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.11)