<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>

THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM WHITMAN
CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001084230

<NAME> WHITMAN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000


<S>                             <C>                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-30-2000        JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-2000        OCT-02-1999
<CASH>                               99,900                  0
<SECURITIES>                              0                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                       282,000                  0
<ALLOWANCES>                          8,300                  0
<INVENTORY>                         120,100                  0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    523,400                  0
<PP&E>                            1,454,000                  0
<DEPRECIATION>                      615,300                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    2,847,800                  0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               723,800                  0
<BONDS>                             808,600                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0                  0
<PREFERRED>                               0                  0
<COMMON>                          1,634,000                  0
<OTHER-SE>                         (469,200)                 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      2,847,800                  0
<SALES>                           1,886,700          1,556,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  1,886,700          1,556,000
<CGS>                             1,109,400            909,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     1,691,800 <F1>     1,419,300 <F5>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     (1,800)            49,900
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   63,400 <F2>        44,900 <F6>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     133,300             41,900
<INCOME-TAX>                         63,600              6,900
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  69,700             28,400 <F7>
<DISCONTINUED>                        8,900            (27,200)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                  0
<CHANGES>                                 0                  0
<NET-INCOME>                         78,600              1,200
<EPS-BASIC>                            0.57 <F3>          0.01 <F8>
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.57 <F4>          0.01 <F9>
<FN>
<F1>

TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
OF $1,109,400, $552,100 AND $30,300, RESPECTIVELY.

<F2>

INTEREST EXPENSE,  NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME OF $64,400
AND $1,000, RESPECTIVELY.

<F3>

BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.51
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS    0.06
NET INCOME               $ 0.57

<F4>

DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.51
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS    0.06
NET INCOME               $ 0.57

<F5>

TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES, SPECIAL CHARGES AND
AMORTIZATION EXPENSE OF $909,800, $462,600, $27,900 AND $19,000, RESPECTIVELY.

<F6>

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME OF $47,600
AND $2,700, RESPECTIVELY.

<F7>

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $6,600.

<F8>

BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $  0.24
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS         (0.23)
NET INCOME               $  0.01

<F9>

DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $  0.24
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS         (0.23)
NET INCOME                  0.01
</FN>


</TABLE>