<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Flowers
Industries, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Income for the twelve and twenty-four
weeks ended December 14, 1996 and the Flowers Industries, Inc. Consolidated
Balance Sheet at December 14, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-28-1997             JUN-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-30-1996             SEP-22-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-14-1996             DEC-14-1996
<CASH>                                           4,972                   4,972
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  161,735                 161,735
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     88,173                  88,173
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               273,311                 273,311
<PP&E>                                         724,606                 724,606
<DEPRECIATION>                                 284,574                 284,574
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 857,224                 857,224
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          217,776                 217,776
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        36,932                  36,932
<OTHER-SE>                                     285,021                 285,021
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   857,224                 857,224
<SALES>                                        704,000                 381,290
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               745,347                 383,146
<CGS>                                          398,806                 216,534
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  693,247                 363,971
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,485                   5,038
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 52,100                  19,175
<INCOME-TAX>                                    19,694                   7,248
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,211                  12,263
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.56                    0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.56                    0.21
        

</TABLE>