<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIALS PROVIDED BY ERNST & YOUNG LLP FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 28, 1996 &
DEC. 27, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-27-1997             DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-27-1997             DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                         157,520                   3,797
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               15,097,575              10,766,086
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,804,000               1,628,000
<INVENTORY>                                 11,496,588               9,295,879
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            30,054,601              21,402,789
<PP&E>                                      32,550,763              29,552,466
<DEPRECIATION>                               5,298,501               3,283,729
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             117,346,298             103,576,746
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       28,103,600              22,252,648
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            10                      10
<OTHER-SE>                                 (43,152,415)              2,790,058
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               117,346,298             103,576,746
<SALES>                                    155,898,769             136,225,643
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           155,898,769             136,225,643
<CGS>                                      112,556,300              97,287,215
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              112,556,300              97,287,215
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            23,569,819              16,641,222
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          16,311,997              10,441,182
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,460,653              11,856,024
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,695,000               4,700,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,765,653               7,156,024
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                947,443                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   818,210               7,156,024
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>