<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
RETAINED EARNINGS(DEFICIT) OF COYNE INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES CORP. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AT OCTOBER 31, 2000 AND 1999 AND FOR THE TWO YEARS IN THE PERIOD
ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-2000             OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1999             NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-2000             OCT-31-1999
<CASH>                                         909,340                 213,407
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               16,929,975              16,768,958
<ALLOWANCES>                                   341,000                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 12,725,141               7,371,395
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            63,976,191              52,987,938
<PP&E>                                      97,917,804              95,853,034
<DEPRECIATION>                              54,100,700              49,299,325
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             131,282,949             121,845,582
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       34,990,136              32,861,457
<BONDS>                                    102,811,292              94,332,429
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                  4,806,200               4,806,200
<COMMON>                                           769                     769
<OTHER-SE>                                (13,495,543)            (13,238,781)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               131,282,949             121,845,582
<SALES>                                      9,972,107              10,439,832
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           150,290,472             146,211,722
<CGS>                                        5,888,754               6,907,257
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              108,420,721             105,719,526
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            30,213,363              30,656,928
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               989,547                 374,605
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,208,439              10,841,533
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                447,949             (1,006,265)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   630,000                (55,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (182,051)               (951,265)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (182,051)               (951,265)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0


</TABLE>