Core Values and Leadership - UniFirst Corporation celebrated its 24th annual Founder's Day with a focus on its founding Core Values: Customer Focus, Commitment to Quality, and Respect for Others, which are central to its people-first strategy [1][3] - The event featured a leadership panel discussion moderated by Catalina Dongo, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, with top executives discussing the importance of these Core Values in the company's success and growth [3] Recognition and Awards - The inaugural Cynthia Croatti Leadership Award was introduced to honor leaders who exemplify vision, passion, and purpose, with Cynthia Croatti being the first recipient for her significant contributions over the past 40 years [4][5] - Founder's Day also included the annual Employee of the Year (EOY) recognition, celebrating outstanding Team Partners who demonstrate commitment to the company's values, with recipients receiving plaques, gifts, and a bonus paid day off [5][6] Educational Support - UniFirst announced the recipients of its higher-education scholarships, including the Aldo Croatti Scholarship for children of Team Partners and the Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship for full-time Team Partners pursuing further education, reflecting the company's commitment to investing in its workforce [6] Company Overview - UniFirst Corporation, headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, is a leader in providing uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, and first aid and safety services across North America, with over 270 service locations and more than 16,000 employees [8]

Core Insights - UniFirst Corporation has achieved significant safety milestones at its Owensboro Distribution and Fulfillment Center, receiving the OSHA VPP Star certification and the Governor's Safety and Health Award [1][3][4] Safety Achievements - The VPP Star certification is OSHA's highest recognition for workplace safety, awarded to organizations with exceptional safety practices [3] - The Governor's Safety and Health Award is given to workplaces that have exceeded 1,000,000 hours without a lost time incident, highlighting a strong safety culture [3][4] - This marks the fourth time UniFirst has received the Governor's Safety and Health Award, with previous recognitions in 2010, 2020, and 2022 [4] Commitment to Safety - The safety achievements are attributed to the efforts of the dedicated Team Partners at UniFirst, emphasizing teamwork and a strong safety culture [5][6] - The VPP certification process includes thorough evaluations and on-site audits by Kentucky OSHA experts, along with employee surveys to ensure a safety-first culture [5] - The facility has implemented ongoing bi-weekly plant audits and quarterly evaluations across 25 operational areas to maintain high safety standards [6] Expansion and Investment - UniFirst is also undertaking a 109,000-square-foot expansion project at the Owensboro Distribution Center, increasing its total footprint to nearly half a million square feet [7] - This expansion has received recognition and support from the Governor, reflecting the company's commitment to investing in its operations and workforce [7]