<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-1999             JAN-02-1999             JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-04-1998             JAN-04-1999             JAN-04-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-28-1998             JUN-20-1998             OCT-10-1998
<CASH>                                             773                     831                     979
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  157,168                 154,396                 205,977
<ALLOWANCES>                                    19,466                  19,828                  20,012
<INVENTORY>                                    287,991                 275,446                 300,655
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               501,480                 479,709                 514,265
<PP&E>                                         597,211                 605,916                 605,152
<DEPRECIATION>                                 319,203                 326,252                 332,004
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 912,423                 891,367                 917,873
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          315,366                 305,552                 336,062
<BONDS>                                        324,145                 313,747                 308,531
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        19,292                  19,292                  19,292
<OTHER-SE>                                     203,529                 203,280                 204,722
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   912,423                 891,367                 917,873
<SALES>                                        919,431               1,878,684               3,134,409
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               932,966               1,906,035               3,188,568
<CGS>                                          825,321               1,714,779               2,901,008
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   94,641                 164,551                 246,682
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   160                     976                   1,952
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,860                  13,624                  22,318
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,984                  12,105                  16,608
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,265                   4,807                   6,791
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,719                   7,298                   9,817
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (1,091)<F1>             (1,055)<F1>               (176)<F1>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (5,569)<F2>             (5,569)<F2>             (5,569)<F2>
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,941)                     674                   4,072
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.26)                     .06                     .36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.26)                     .06                     .36
<FN>
<F1>IN OCTOBER 1998, THE COMPANY ADOPTED A PLAN TO SELL NASH DECAMP COMPANY, ITS
PRODUCE GROWING AND MARKETING SUBSIDIARY
<F2>LOSS FROM EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT, NET OF INCOME TAX BENEFIT OF $3,951.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>