WILMINGTON, Mass. (July 2024) — UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF), a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, recently celebrated its 23rd annual Founder’s Day—a cherished tradition established in 2001 after the passing of the company’s visionary founder Aldo Croatti. The event, held across over 270 UniFirst locations across the United States and Canada, brought together thousands of employee Team Partners to pay homage to Mr. Croatti’s enduring legacy, having founded the uniform service and supply company back in 1936.
The central theme of this year’s celebration revolved around customer service excellence and the company’s promise to always deliver. In a display of creativity, several of the company’s 16,000-plus Team Partners showcased in engaging video submissions how they always deliver for their customers. Whether from the production line, sales department, or support services, each individual plays a vital role in ensuring customer satisfaction at every touchpoint.
“At the heart of UniFirst is an enduring customer-focused culture that Aldo has instilled since day one,” said Cynthia Croatti, Special Consultant and Advisor to the CEO, and daughter of Aldo Croatti. “Aldo’s legacy lives on at UniFirst and Founder’s Day services as our way to strengthen our commitment to our founding core values: Customer Focus, Respect for Others, and Commitment to Quality.”
Founder’s Day also provides an opportunity for each UniFirst location to name its Employee of the Year (EOY), celebrating individuals who best exemplify the company’s core values. Each EOY received an award, a gift of recognition, and a bonus paid day off. Their names are engraved on commemorative plaques displayed at their respective UniFirst locations across North America.
“What distinguishes UniFirst from our competition is our people and their dedication to serving our customers. Our unique service culture, rooted in the values established by Aldo, continues to propel us forward as a trusted partner to our customers,” said Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and CEO. “Congratulations to all our Employees of the Year for their outstanding contributions. I’m proud of the way you always deliver for our customers, our company, and for each other.”
UniFirst also announced the recipients of its two higher-education scholarships, the annual Aldo Croatti Scholarship and the Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship programs. The former, awarded in honor of its namesake, assists children of UniFirst staff members in their academic pursuits. The latter, presented in recognition of the longtime president and CEO who passed away in 2017, helps full-time UniFirst employees who enroll in undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited college or vocational/technical school in the areas of information technology (IT), sales leadership, or business administration/leadership. To date, the amount awarded in scholarships stands at nearly one-million dollars.
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About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its five company-owned ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For additional information, contact UniFirst at 888.296.2740 or visit UniFirst.com. Follow UniFirst on Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram
