<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                                 5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
          FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME, BALANCE SHEETS, AND
          STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OF THE COLONEL'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
          ITS SUBSIDIARIES AS OF AND FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
          1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
<S>                                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                              211,562
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                     3,490,347
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        575,000
<INVENTORY>                                                       8,636,190
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 13,628,475
<PP&E>                                                           47,465,021
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   20,345,463
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   43,190,975
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            16,541,796
<BONDS>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                            241,778
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                       16,319,037
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                     43,190,975
<SALES>                                                          10,937,133
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                 10,937,133
<CGS>                                                             7,557,394
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     7,557,394
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  1,522,712
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  349,165
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   1,562,543
<INCOME-TAX>                                                        532,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               1,030,543
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      1,030,543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0
        


</TABLE>