<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> 1000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-30-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                    APR-01-2000             APR-03-1999
<CASH>                             111,900                       0
<SECURITIES>                             0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                      252,100                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                         6,500                       0
<INVENTORY>                        115,700                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    55,400                       0
<PP&E>                           1,397,000                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                     577,900                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   2,855,800                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              753,200                       0
<BONDS>                            808,600                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0                       0
<PREFERRED>                              0                       0
<COMMON>                         1,634,200                       0
<OTHER-SE>                        (513,600)                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>     2,855,800                       0
<SALES>                            548,900                 370,300
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   548,900                 370,300
<CGS>                              319,700                 219,700
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      511,300<F1>             339,100<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    (2,100)                 (6,600)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  20,300<F2>              11,300<F4>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     19,400                  26,500
<INCOME-TAX>                         9,200                   8,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 10,200                  14,300<F5>
<DISCONTINUED>                           0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0                       0
<CHANGES>                                0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                        10,200                  14,300
<EPS-BASIC>                         0.07                    0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                         0.07                    0.15
<FN>

<F1>
TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
OF $319,700, $181,500 AND $10,100, RESPECTIVELY.

<F2>
INTEREST EXPENSE,  NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME OF $20,800
AND $500, RESPECTIVELY.

<F3>
TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
OF $219,700, $115,500 AND $3,900, RESPECTIVELY.

<F4>
INTEREST EXPENSE,  NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME OF $12,000
AND $700, RESPECTIVELY.

<F5>
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $3,900.


</FN>


</TABLE>