<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                                                           Ex-27

                  ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.

                          FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP,
INC. AS OF OCTOBER 5, 1996, AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                        1
<CURRENCY>                                               U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                                                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        Dec-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                           Jun-15-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                             Oct-05-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                    1
<CASH>                                                         9,327
<SECURITIES>                                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                137,145
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     807
<INVENTORY>                                                  145,903
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             282,113
<PP&E>                                                       170,204
<DEPRECIATION>                                                69,121
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               462,531
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                        207,371
<BONDS>                                                      170,626
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                        0
<COMMON>                                                       2,030
<OTHER-SE>                                                    25,666
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 462,531
<SALES>                                                      944,997
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             944,997
<CGS>                                                        881,297
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                881,297
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              39,040
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             3,384
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               24,017
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     541
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           23,476
<DISCONTINUED>                                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    0
<CHANGES>                                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  23,476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>