<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-20-1997              DEC-14-1996              DEC-16-1995
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-20-1997              DEC-14-1996              DEC-16-1995
<CASH>                                         12,500                   18,200                        0
<SECURITIES>                                        0                        0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  68,700                   75,300                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                    3,000                    3,300                        0
<INVENTORY>                                    79,800                   88,800                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              188,800                  198,500                        0 
<PP&E>                                        334,500                  342,200                        0
<DEPRECIATION>                                136,300                  129,900                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                443,100                  482,700                        0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         107,000                   93,900                        0
<BONDS>                                        18,100<F1>               13,600<F5>                    0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                        0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                        0                        0
<COMMON>                                       24,300                   24,300                        0
<OTHER-SE>                                    209,800                  252,800                        0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  443,100                  482,700                        0
<SALES>                                       596,400                  604,200                  576,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              596,400                  604,200                  576,100
<CGS>                                         277,500                  281,800                  268,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 597,200<F2>              526,200<F6>              493,600<F8>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (900)                    (800)                  (1,700)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                        0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              9,100<F3>               10,000<F7>                9,300<F9>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (27,100)                   51,600                   55,900
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (3,600)                   21,200                   24,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (23,500)                   30,400                   31,700
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                        0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                        0                        0
<CHANGES>                                           0                        0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (23,500)                   30,400                   31,700
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (1.21)<F4>                    0                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (1.21)<F4>                    0                        0
<FN>

<F1> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT OF $14,600
     AND $3,500, RESPECTIVELY.

<F2> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G & A EXPENSES, DISPOSITION OF U.S. 
     COMPANY-OPERATED STORES AND NON-RECURRING CHARGES OF $277,500, $252,100, 
     $35,500 AND $32,100, RESPECTIVELY.

<F3> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $6,800 AND 
     $2,300, RESPECTIVELY.

<F4> PRO FORMA BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE WERE CALCULATED USING
     THE ASSUMPTIONS PRESENTED IN NOTE 1 OF THE NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL 
     STATEMENTS.

<F5> INCLUDES: CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS OF $13,600.

<F6> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD AND S,G & A EXPENSES OF $281,800 AND $244,400,
     RESPECTIVELY.

<F7> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $7,300 AND 
     $2,700, RESPECTIVELY.

<F8> INCLUDES: COST OF GOODS SOLD AND S,G & A EXPENSES OF $268,400 AND $225,200,
     RESPECTIVELY.

<F9> INCLUDES: INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO WHITMAN AND OTHER OF $7,200 AND 
     $12,100, RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>