<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-03-1999 JAN-02-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-02-1999 SEP-30-1999
<CASH> 4,854 3,645
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 301,850 260,304
<ALLOWANCES> 33,351 24,836
<INVENTORY> 423,052 427,999
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 721,425 690,169
<PP&E> 795,205 816,629
<DEPRECIATION> 150,384 188,978
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,683,389 1,627,410
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 316,693 202,927
<BONDS> 1,051,082 1,070,950
0 0
73,898 79,875
<COMMON> 142 142
<OTHER-SE> 241,574 169,229
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,683,389 1,627,410
<SALES> 1,146,781 1,044,536
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,146,781 1,044,536
<CGS> 989,757 936,457
<TOTAL-COSTS> 989,657 936,457
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 92,457 74,562
<LOSS-PROVISION> 2,000 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 60,464 81,469
<INCOME-PRETAX> 2,205 (47,952)
<INCOME-TAX> 1,255 (15,839)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 948 (32,113)
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> (9,654) (38,090)
<EPS-BASIC> (.68) (2.68)
<EPS-DILUTED> (.68) (2.68)
</TABLE>