<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>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-01-2000             JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-03-1999             JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         123,800                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  274,300                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,300                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    119,000                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               548,100                       0
<PP&E>                                       1,343,800                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 508,000                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,879,800                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          765,800                       0
<BONDS>                                        802,900                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                     1,633,800                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   (458,400)                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,879,800                       0
<SALES>                                        885,500                 758,900
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               885,500                 758,900
<CGS>                                          517,800                 448,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  817,500<F1>             670,400<F6>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                47,800                  10,100
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              25,500<F2>              17,800<F7>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (5,300)                  60,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (15,900)                  27,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,000<F3>              24,500<F8>
<DISCONTINUED>                                (27,200)                   (500)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                (18,300)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (23,200)                   5,700
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.22)<F4>                0.06<F9>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.22)<F5>                0.06<F10>
<FN>
<F1>TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES, SPECIAL CHARGES AND
AMORTIZATION EXPENSE OF $517,800, $266,900, $23,400 AND $9,400, RESPECTIVELY.

<F2>INTEREST EXPENSE, NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME OF $27,600
AND $2,100, RESPECTIVELY.

<F3>INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $6,600.

<F4>BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS      $ 0.04
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS     (0.26)
NET INCOME                 $(0.22)

<F5>DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS      $ 0.04
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS     (0.26)
NET INCOME                 $(0.22)

<F6>TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COSTS OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION
EXPENSE OF $448,600, $213,900 AND $7,900, RESPECTIVELY.

<F7>INTEREST EXPENSE, NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE, INTEREST INCOME FROM HUSSMANN
INTERNATIONAL, INC. ("HUSSMANN") AND MIDAS, INC. ("MIDAS") AND OTHER INTEREST
INCOME OF $23,500, $1,600 AND $4,100, RESPECTIVELY. INTEREST INCOME FROM
HUSSMANN AND MIDAS RELATED TO INTERCOMPANY LOANS AND ADVANCES. THE RELATED
INTEREST EXPENSE RECORDED BY HUSSMANN AND MIDAS IS INCLUDED IN INCOME FROM
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AFTER TAXES.

<F8>INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $8,900.

<F9>BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.24
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS        (0.18)
NET INCOME               $ 0.06

<F10>DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.24
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS        (0.18)
NET INCOME               $ 0.06
</FN>


</TABLE>