Cintas Corporation (PPAI 303547, Gold), PPAI 100’s No. 92 distributor, has announced it will acquire UniFirst, a supplier of uniforms, workwear and safety equipment, for $5.5 billion.

  • Cintas previously made two other offers to acquire UniFirst, The Wall Street Journal reported.
  • Revenue for Cintas’ fiscal 2026 third quarter ending February 28 was $2.84 billion compared to $2.61 billion in last year’s third quarter, an increase of 8.9%.


“This agreement marks a critical step in realizing substantial value for shareholders and customers,” says Todd Schneider, president and CEO of Cintas. “For decades, Cintas and UniFirst have built their reputations on a shared commitment to service excellence and putting customers first.

“By combining, we will be better positioned to drive growth and deliver on efficiencies that will benefit our collective customers and employee-partners. We look forward to welcoming UniFirst team partners to Cintas as we deliver on our shared vision.”

For decades, Cintas and UniFirst have built their reputations on a shared commitment to service excellence and putting customers first.”

Todd Schneider

President/CEO, Cintas

‘Deep Alignment In Purpose’

The combined company will deliver products and services to approximately 1.5 million business customers across North America, Cintas says. By integrating complementary processing capacity, route networks, service infrastructure, supply chains and technology investments, Cintas expects to create efficiencies and expand service capabilities.

“This announcement reflects the extraordinary dedication of our team partners to ‘always deliver’ for the customers and communities we serve,” says Steven Sintros, president and CEO of UniFirst. “As we spent time with Todd and the Cintas leadership team, it became clear that there is a deep alignment in purpose and core priorities between our two companies, including a steadfast commitment to investing in our people and driving operational excellence.

“Bringing together these successful, family-founded businesses will create meaningful benefits for our people and communities while advancing innovation for the benefit of our customers and the broader industry.”

Bringing together these successful, family-founded businesses will create meaningful benefits for our people and communities.”

Steven Sintros

President/CEO, UniFirst

Founded in 1929, Cintas has long been the leader in uniforms, workwear and supplies for a diverse range of industries from hospitality and food service to automotive.

  • Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company and has been traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange since 1984.
  • Last year, the Cincinnati-based firm was named by FORTUNE as one of America’s Most Innovative Companies for its ability to develop innovative products, streamline processes and cultivate a forward-thinking corporate culture.