<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>
<CIK> 0001046131
<NAME> MIDAS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                           <C>                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                        12-MOS                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-26-1998                   DEC-20-1997                  DEC-14-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-26-1998                   DEC-20-1997                  DEC-14-1996
<CASH>                                         36,900                        12,500                            0
<SECURITIES>                                        0                             0                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  40,900                        68,700                            0
<ALLOWANCES>                                    1,500                         3,000                            0
<INVENTORY>                                    63,200                        79,800                            0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              164,300                       188,800                            0
<PP&E>                                        254,000                       334,500                            0
<DEPRECIATION>                                111,200                       136,300                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                325,300                       443,100                            0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          63,300                       107,000                            0
<BONDS>                                       113,000<F1>                    18,100<F5>                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                             0                            0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                             0                            0
<COMMON>                                       22,900                        24,300                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                    100,500                       209,800                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  325,300                       443,100                            0
<SALES>                                       519,100                       596,400                      604,200
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              519,100                       596,400                      604,200
<CGS>                                         253,100                       277,500                      281,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 505,200<F2>                   597,200<F6>                  526,200<F10>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             (38,800)<F3>                    17,200<F7>                   16,400<F11>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                             0                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             12,700<F4>                     9,100<F8>                   10,000<F12>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                40,000                      (27,100)                       51,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                   11,800                       (3,600)                       21,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            28,200                      (23,500)                       30,400
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                             0                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                             0                            0
<CHANGES>                                           0                             0                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   28,200                      (23,500)                       30,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.67                          1.21<F9>                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.63                          1.21<F9>                        0
        
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $10,800
AND $102,200, RESPECTIVELY.
<F2> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $253,100, $198,400 AND $55,700, RESPECTIVELY.
<F3> INCLUDES: GAIN ON SALE OF EUROPEAN OPERATIONS, WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER
EXPENSES OF ($38,000), $1,100 AND ($1,900), RESPECTIVELY.
<F4> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $500 AND $12,200
RESPECTIVELY.
<F5> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $14,600
AND $3,500, RESPECTIVELY.
<F6> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
COSTS OF $277,500, $252,100 AND $67,600, RESPECTIVELY.
<F7> INCLUDES: WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF $18,100 AND ($900),
RESPECTIVELY.
<F8> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $6,800 AND
$2,300, RESPECTIVELY.
<F9> 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.
<F10> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD AND S,G & A EXPENSES OF $281,800 AND
$244,400, RESPECTIVELY.
<F11> INCLUDES: WHITMAN CHARGES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF $17,200 AND ($800),
RESPECTIVELY.
<F12> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $7,300 AND
$2,700, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>

</TABLE>