<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                  5
<LEGEND>
      This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from the
      consolidated  financial statements of United Grocers, Inc., for the fiscal
      years ended  October 2, 1998 and October 3, 1997 and is  qualified  in its
      entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000     
       
<S>                                                  <C>                           <C>                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        YEAR                          YEAR                       
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    OCT-02-1998                   OCT-03-1997                
<PERIOD-START>                                       OCT-04-1997                   SEP-28-1996                
<PERIOD-END>                                         OCT-02-1998                   OCT-03-1997                
<CASH>                                                          1,294                        10,223           
<SECURITIES>                                                        0                        51,513           
<RECEIVABLES>                                                  68,505                        86,276           
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   (1,236)                        7,739           
<INVENTORY>                                                    68,898                       102,333           
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              144,102                       257,790           
<PP&E>                                                         84,079                       110,434           
<DEPRECIATION>                                                (46,165)                      (48,991)          
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                233,642                       365,427           
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         112,950                       150,577           
<BONDS>                                                             0                             0           
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0                             0           
<PREFERRED>                                                         0                             0           
<COMMON>                                                       23,014                        25,820           
<OTHER-SE>                                                      8,329                       (11,169)          
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  233,642                       365,427           
<SALES>                                                     1,175,279                     1,306,602           
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                            1,175,279                     1,306,602           
<CGS>                                                       1,015,268                     1,133,690           
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 144,576                       163,402           
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               19,867                       (21,627)          
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                2,440                         9,943           
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             13,585                        16,307           
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                21,194                       (21,627)          
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    7,939                       (10,466)          
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            13,255                       (11,161)          
<DISCONTINUED>                                                  4,758                         2,501           
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0                             0           
<CHANGES>                                                       1,747                             0           
<NET-INCOME>                                                   19,760                        (8,660)          
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                       0                             0           
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                       0                             0           
        

</TABLE>