UNIFIRST CORP
For the period ended Aug 30, 2025. Filed Oct 29, 2025.
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FY2025 · Filed Oct 29, 2025
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Employee Benefit Plans
- Employee Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan
The Company has a defined contribution retirement savings plan with a 401(k) feature for all eligible U.S. and Canadian employees not under collective bargaining agreements. The Company matches a portion of the employee’s contribution and may make an additional contribution at its discretion. Contributions charged to expense under the plan for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023 were$15.6 million,$20.3 million and$18.7 million, respectively.
Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
The Company accounts for its pension plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on an accrual basis over employees’ estimated service periods.
The Company maintains an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for certain eligible employees of the Company. The benefits are based on the employee’s compensation upon retirement. The amount charged to expense related to this plan amounted to approximately$1.6 million,$1.7 million and$1.7 million for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“UniFirst Plan”) covering employees at one of its locations. The benefits are based on years of service. The UniFirst Plan assets are invested in a Guaranteed Deposit Account (“GDA”) that is maintained and operated by a third-party investment manager. The amount charged to expense related to this plan amounted to approximately$0.2 million,$0.2 million and$0.1 million for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Net periodic benefit cost other than service costs have been recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income in other expense, net.
The components of net periodic benefit cost for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
| UniFirst Plan | SERP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Service cost | $73 | $74 | $73 | $390 | $405 | $486 |
| Interest cost | 148 | 159 | 147 | 1,239 | 1,255 | 1,191 |
| Expected return on assets | (91) | (90) | (101) | — | — | — |
| Amortization of prior service cost | 21 | 21 | 21 | — | — | — |
| Amortization of actuarial gain | — | — | — | (41) | (116) | — |
| Other events | (10) | — | (12) | — | — | — |
| Net periodic benefit cost | $141 | $164 | $128 | $1,588 | $1,544 | $1,677 |
The Company’s obligations and funded status as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
| UniFirst Plan | SERP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Change in benefit obligation: | ||||
| Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year | $3,609 | $3,549 | $25,880 | $25,119 |
| Service cost | 73 | 74 | 390 | 405 |
| Interest cost | 148 | 159 | 1,239 | 1,255 |
| Actuarial loss (gain) | 3 | (28) | (2,549) | 465 |
| Benefits paid | (37) | (145) | (1,481) | (1,364) |
| Settlements | (792) | — | — | — |
| Projected benefit obligation, end of year | $3,004 | $3,609 | $23,479 | $25,880 |
| Change in plan assets: | ||||
| Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year | $3,108 | $2,986 | $— | $— |
| Actual return on plan assets | 27 | 20 | — | — |
| Employer Contributions | 168 | 247 | — | — |
| Benefits paid | (37) | (145) | — | — |
| Settlements | (792) | — | — | — |
| Fair value of plan assets, end of year | $2,474 | $3,108 | $— | $— |
| Funded status (net amount recognized) | $(530) | $(501) | $(23,479) | $(25,880) |
As of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024, the accumulated benefit obligations related to the UniFirst Plan were$3.0 million and$3.6 million, respectively. As of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024, the accumulated benefit obligations related to the SERP were$21.7 million and$23.4 million, respectively.
The amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
| Pension Plans | SERP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Deferred tax assets (liabilities) | $4 | $(10) | $(1,388) | $(750) |
| Accrued liabilities | 530 | 501 | 23,479 | 25,880 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (11) | 30 | 4,071 | 2,200 |
As of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows (in thousands):
| UniFirst Plan | SERP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Net actuarial gain | $36 | $113 | $5,459 | $2,950 |
| Unrecognized prior service cost | (51) | (73) | — | — |
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | $(15) | $40 | $5,459 | $2,950 |
The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s projected benefit obligation as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024 are as follows:
| UniFirst Plan | SERP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Discount rate | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 4.9% |
| Rate of compensation increase | N/A | N/A | 5.0% | 5.0% |
The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s net periodic service cost for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:
| UniFirst Plan | SERP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Discount rate | 4.8% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Expected return on plan assets | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rate of compensation increase | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
The benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 30, 2025 and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
| UniFirst Plan · SERP | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $757 | $1,738 |
| 2027 | 97 | 1,736 |
| 2028 | 157 | 1,673 |
| 2029 | 219 | 1,768 |
| 2030 | 198 | 1,557 |
| Thereafter | 1,576 | 15,007 |
| Total benefit payments | $3,004 | $23,479 |
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company adopted the NQDC Plan effective on February 1, 2022. The NQDC Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan that allows eligible participants to voluntarily defer receipt of their salary and annual cash bonuses up to approved limits. In its discretion, the Company may credit one or more additional contributions to participant accounts. NQDC Plan participants who are not accruing benefits under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan are eligible to have discretionary annual employer contributions credited to their NQDC Plan accounts. All participants are also eligible to have employer supplemental contributions and employer discretionary contributions credited to their NQDC Plan accounts. The amounts of such contributions, if any, may differ from year to year and from participant to participant.
The amounts for employee or employer contributions charged to expense related to the NQDC Plan for fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023, were$1.0 million,$0.8 million and$0.3 million, respectively.
The Company, at its discretion, may also elect to transfer funds to a trust account with the intention to fund the future liability. Total NQDC Plan assets were$4.7 million and$3.3 million as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively, and are included within other long-term assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Total NQDC Plan liabilities were$2.8 million and$1.6 million as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively, and are included within current accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Earnings and losses on contributions, based on investment elections, are recorded as a component of compensation expense in the period earned and are included within other (income) expense, net. For fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, other income was$0.4 million and$0.6 million, respectively. No amount was recorded for fiscal 2023.
- Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
When the Company acquires a business, the amount assigned to the tangible assets and liabilities and intangible assets acquired is based on their respective fair values determined as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the tangible assets and liabilities and intangible assets is recorded as goodwill. The Company does not amortize goodwill, but it is reviewed annually or more frequently if certain indicators arise, for impairment. There wereno impairment losses related to goodwill or intangible assets during fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023.
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):
| Balance as of August 26, 2023 | $647,900 |
|---|---|
| Purchase price adjustments recorded during the period | 900 |
| Other | 50 |
| Balance as of August 31, 2024 | $648,850 |
| Goodwill recorded during the period | 8,935 |
| Other | (37) |
| Balance as of August 30, 2025 | $657,748 |
As of August 30, 2025, the Company has allocated$645.8 million,$8.7 million and$3.2 million of goodwill to its Uniform & Facility Service Solutions, First Aid & Safety Solutions and Other segments, respectively.
Intangible assets, net in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
| GrossCarryingAmount | AccumulatedAmortization | NetCarryingAmount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer contracts | $318,148 | $243,364 | $74,784 |
| Software | 81,659 | 52,355 | 29,304 |
| Other intangible assets | 40,003 | 38,262 | 1,741 |
| $439,810 | $333,981 | $105,829 | |
| Customer contracts | $314,446 | $228,456 | $85,990 |
| Software | 81,482 | 51,023 | 30,459 |
| Other intangible assets | 39,826 | 36,276 | 3,550 |
| $435,754 | $315,755 | $119,999 |
Estimated amortization expense for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 30, 2025 and thereafter, based on intangible assets, net as of August 30, 2025 are as follows (in thousands):
| 2026 | $20,141 |
| 2027 | 17,008 |
| 2028 | 15,032 |
| 2029 | 12,693 |
| 2030 | 11,300 |
| Thereafter | 29,655 |
| Total estimated amortization expense | $105,829 |
- Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 30, 2025 and August 31, 2024 consists of the following (in thousands):
| August 30,2025 | August 31,2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Payroll and benefit related | $46,901 | $48,268 |
| Bonuses | 23,505 | 24,045 |
| Insurance related | 36,079 | 32,003 |
| Environmental related | 16,243 | 14,197 |
| Other | 54,175 | 51,727 |
| Total current liabilities | $176,903 | $170,240 |
| Long-term liabilities: | ||
| Benefit related | $22,271 | $24,770 |
| Environmental related | 14,409 | 17,057 |
| Asset retirement obligations | 18,524 | 17,929 |
| Insurance related | 73,350 | 63,645 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $128,554 | $123,401 |
| Total accrued liabilities | $305,457 | $293,641 |
- Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations generally result from legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. Accordingly, the Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The Company continues to depreciate, on a straight-line basis, the amount added to property, plant and equipment and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the various remaining lives which range from approximatelyone tonineteen years.
The Company recognized as a liability the present value of the estimated future costs to decommission its nuclear laundry facilities. The estimated liability is based on historical experience in decommissioning nuclear laundry facilities, estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, external vendor estimates as to the cost to decommission these assets in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The estimated current costs have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year, and the liability has been discounted to present value using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate.
Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in the Company’s estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, estimated dates of decommissioning, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory guidance on the decommissioning of such facilities, or other changes in estimates. Changes due to revised estimates are recognized by adjusting the carrying amount of the liability and the related long-lived asset if the assets are still in service, or charged to expense in the period if the assets are no longer in service.
A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement are as follows for fiscal 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):
| Year ended | August 30,2025 | August 31,2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning balance | $17,929 | $16,471 |
| Accretion expense | 875 | 976 |
| Effect of exchange rate changes | 271 | 102 |
| Costs incurred | — | (282) |
| Change in estimate | (551) | 662 |
| Ending balance | $18,524 | $17,929 |
The Company’s asset retirement obligations are included in long-term accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.