<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>                         DEC-30-2000             JAN-01-2000             DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-30-2000             JAN-01-2000             DEC-26-1998
<CASH>                                          1,800                  13,100                       0
<SECURITIES>                                        0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  52,300                  45,300                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                    6,700                   1,800                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    76,900                  63,500                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              148,600                 140,800                       0
<PP&E>                                        250,600                 232,100                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                100,700                  91,600                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                321,700                 305,900                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          80,000                  56,200                       0
<BONDS>                                        93,200<F1>             110,300<F3>                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       24,600                  26,800                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                    103,800                  87,800                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  321,700                 305,900                       0
<SALES>                                       346,200                 355,500                 513,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              346,200                 355,500                 513,800
<CGS>                                         190,000                 191,200                 239,900
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 301,100<F2>             287,100<F4>             499,900<F5>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (4,100)                 (3,100)                (38,800)<F6>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              8,100                   8,600                  12,700<F7>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                41,100                  62,900                  40,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   10,600                  24,500                  11,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            30,500                  38,400                  28,200
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                           0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   30,500                  38,400                  28,200
<EPS-BASIC>                                      1.98                    2.33                    1.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.96                    2.28                    1.63
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $9,100
AND $84,100, RESPECTIVELY.
<F2> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, OF $190,000 AND $111,100,
RESPECTIVELY.
<F3> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $9,300
AND $101,200, RESPECTIVELY.
<F4> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $191,200, $96,100 AND ($200), RESPECTIVELY.
<F5> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $239,900, $204,300 AND $55,700, RESPECTIVELY.
<F6> INCLUDES: GAIN ON SALE OF EUROPEAN OPERATIONS, WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER
EXPENSES OF ($38,000), $1,100 AND ($1,900), RESPECTIVELY.
<F7> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $500 AND
$12,200, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>


</TABLE>