<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
MIDAS GROUP'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                      <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JAN-01-2000              DEC-26-1998              DEC-20-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              JAN-01-2000              DEC-26-1998              DEC-20-1997
<CASH>                                         13,100                   36,900                        0
<SECURITIES>                                        0                        0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  45,300                   40,900                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                    1,800                    1,500                        0
<INVENTORY>                                    63,500                   63,200                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              140,800                  164,300                        0
<PP&E>                                        232,100                  254,000                        0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 91,600                  111,200                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                305,900                  325,300                        0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          56,200                   63,300                        0
<BONDS>                                       110,300<F1>              113,000<F3>                    0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                        0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                        0                        0
<COMMON>                                       26,800                   27,100                        0
<OTHER-SE>                                     87,800                   96,300                        0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  305,900                  325,300                        0
<SALES>                                       355,500                  513,800                  591,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              355,500                  513,800                  591,000
<CGS>                                         191,200                  239,900                  260,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 287,100<F2>              499,900<F4>              591,800<F7>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (3,100)                 (38,800)<F5>               17,200<F8>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                        0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              8,600                   12,700<F6>                9,100<F9>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                62,900                   40,000                 (27,100)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   24,500                   11,800                  (3,600)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            38,400                   28,200                 (23,500)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                        0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                        0                        0
<CHANGES>                                           0                        0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   38,400                   28,200                 (23,500)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      2.33                     1.67                   (1.21)<F10>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    2.28                     1.63                   (1.21)<F10>
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF
     $9,300 AND $101,000, RESPECTIVELY.
<F2> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
     COSTS OF $191,200, $96,100 AND ($200), RESPECTIVELY.
<F3> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF
     $10,800 AND $102,200, RESPECTIVELY.
<F4> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
     COSTS OF $239,900, $204,300 AND $55,700, RESPECTIVELY.
<F5> INCLUDES: GAIN ON SALE OF EUROPEAN OPERATIONS, WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER
     EXPENSES OF ($38,000), $1,100 AND ($1,900), RESPECTIVELY.
<F6> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $500 AND
     $12,200, RESPECTIVELY.
<F7> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
     COSTS OF $260,800, $263,400 AND $67,600, RESPECTIVELY.
<F8> INCLUDES: WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF $18,100 AND ($900),
     RESPECTIVELY.
<F9> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $6,800 AND
     $2,300, RESPECTIVELY.
<F10> PRO FORMA BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE WERE CALCULATED
      USING THE ASSUMPTIONS PRESENTED IN NOTE 1 OF THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL
      STATEMENTS.
</FN>


</TABLE>