Edgar Filing: UNIFIRST CORP

form10q-1q2012.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
		SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the quarterly period ended November 26, 2011

		OR

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
		SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number: 001-08504

UNIFIRST CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Massachusetts		04-2103460
(State or Other Jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)		Identification No.)

68 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA		01887
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(978) 658-8888

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ü No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ü No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ü Accelerated filer Smaller Reporting Company Non-accelerated filer

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes No ü

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

The number of outstanding shares of UniFirst Corporation Common Stock and Class B Common Stock at December 30, 2011 were 15,005,171 and 4,885,277, respectively.

UniFirst Corporation

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

For the Quarter ended November 26, 2011

Table of Contents


Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 – Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 26, 2011 and August 27, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

Item 1A – Risk Factors

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Item 4 – (Removed and Reserved)

Item 5 – Other Information

Item 6 – Exhibits

Signatures

Exhibit Index

Certifications
Ex-31.1 Section 302 Certification of CEO
Ex-31.2 Section 302 Certification of CFO
Ex-32.1 Section 906 Certification of CEO
Ex-32.2 Section 906 Certification of CFO

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

Thirteen weeks ended (In thousands, except per share data)	November 26, 2011			November 27, 2010
Revenues	$	313,025		$	273,090

Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (1)		195,139			163,235
Selling and administrative expenses (1)		59,124			55,183
Depreciation and amortization		16,408			15,502
Total operating expenses		270,671			233,920

Income from operations		42,354			39,170

Other expense (income):
Interest expense		573			2,203
Interest income		(631	)		(582	)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)		627			(172	)
Total other expense		569			1,449

Income before income taxes		41,785			37,721
Provision for income taxes		15,983			13,957

Net income	$	25,802		$	23,764

Income per share – Basic:
Common Stock	$	1.37		$	1.26
Class B Common Stock	$	1.09		$	1.01

Income per share – Diluted:
Common Stock	$	1.30		$	1.20

Income allocated to – Basic:
Common Stock	$	20,258		$	18,604
Class B Common Stock	$	5,068		$	4,704

Income allocated to – Diluted:
Common Stock	$	25,350		$	23,330

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic:
Common Stock		14,838			14,753
Class B Common Stock		4,641			4,663

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted:
Common Stock		19,557			19,487

Dividends per share:
Common Stock	$	0.0375		$	0.0375
Class B Common Stock	$	0.0300		$	0.0300

(1) Exclusive of depreciation on the Company’s property, plant and equipment and amortization on its intangible assets.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these

Consolidated Financial Statements.

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)	November 26, 2011		August 27, 2011(a)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,123	$	48,812
Receivables, less reserves of $5,441 and $4,201, respectively		143,176		128,377
Inventories		73,782		76,460
Rental merchandise in service		133,281		126,536
Prepaid and deferred income taxes		7,369		11,358
Prepaid expenses		6,769		3,647

Total current assets		418,500		395,190

Property, plant and equipment:
Land, buildings and leasehold improvements		345,020		346,738
Machinery and equipment		398,120		393,530
Motor vehicles		132,176		129,762

Total property, plant and equipment		875,316		870,030
Less -- accumulated depreciation		483,114		474,963

Total property, plant and equipment, net		392,202		395,067

Goodwill		287,910		288,249
Customer contracts, net		55,423		57,890
Other intangible assets, net		2,718		3,015
Other assets		2,247		2,109
Total assets	$	1,159,000	$	1,141,520

Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	11,470	$	20,133
Accounts payable		59,230		56,064
Accrued liabilities		75,508		76,630
Accrued income taxes		2,523		—

Total current liabilities		148,731		152,827

Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		100,180		100,163
Accrued liabilities		41,530		39,698
Accrued and deferred income taxes		51,005		50,890

Total long-term liabilities		192,715		190,751

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		—		—
Common Stock, $0.10 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 14,997,171 and 14,987,371 issued and outstanding, respectively		1,500		1,499
Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 4,885,277 and 4,887,777 issued and outstanding, respectively		488		488
Capital surplus		35,504		33,588
Retained earnings		777,623		752,530
Accumulated other comprehensive income		2,439		9,837

Total shareholders' equity		817,554		797,942

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,159,000	$	1,141,520

(a) Derived from audited financial statements

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these

Consolidated Financial Statements.

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Thirteen weeks ended (In thousands)	November 26, 2011			November 27, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	25,802		$	23,764
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		13,727			13,125
Amortization of intangible assets		2,681			2,377
Amortization of deferred financing costs		59			67
Share-based compensation		1,668			1,684
Accretion on environmental contingencies		158			170
Accretion on asset retirement obligations		158			147
Deferred income taxes		51			5,433
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables		(16,100	)		(17,274	)
Inventories		2,332			(4,759	)
Rental merchandise in service		(7,505	)		(5,133	)
Prepaid expenses		(3,137	)		(2,443	)
Accounts payable		3,529			2,677
Accrued liabilities		623			2,077
Prepaid and accrued income taxes		6,608			5,254
Net cash provided by operating activities		30,654			27,166

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		-			(2,220	)
Capital expenditures		(13,966	)		(12,250	)
Other		(118	)		(776	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(14,084	)		(15,246	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term obligations		7,000			-
Payments on long-term obligations		(15,371	)		(496	)
Proceeds from exercise of Common Stock options		248			153
Payment of cash dividends		(709	)		(707	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(8,832	)		(1,050	)

Effect of exchange rate changes		(2,427	)		1,137

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		5,311			12,007
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		48,812			121,258

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	54,123		$	133,265

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these

Consolidated Financial Statements.

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation

These Consolidated Financial Statements of UniFirst Corporation (the “Company”) have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the information furnished reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period.

It is suggested that these Consolidated Financial Statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 27, 2011. There have been no material changes in the accounting policies followed by the Company during the current fiscal year. Results for an interim period are not indicative of any future interim periods or for an entire fiscal year.

2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance to amend existing requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures. The guidance expands the disclosure requirements around fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and requires disclosure of the level in the fair value hierarchy of items that are not measured at fair value but whose fair value must be disclosed. It also clarifies and expands upon existing requirements for fair value measurements of financial assets and liabilities as well as instruments classified in shareholders’ equity. The guidance is effective for interim and annual financial periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance that improves the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. The amendments to the existing standard require that all nonowner changes in shareholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments to the existing standard do not change the current option for presenting components of OCI gross or net of the effect of income taxes, provided that such tax effects are presented in the statement in which OCI is presented or disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Additionally, the standard does not affect the calculation or reporting of earnings per share. This guidance is effective for interim and annual financial periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is to be applied retrospectively, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance intended to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test for goodwill and impairment. This guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. Also, the guidance improves the examples of events and circumstances that an entity having a reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount should consider in determining whether to measure an impairment loss, if any, under the second step of the goodwill impairment test. This guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

3. Acquisitions

During the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, the Company acquired no businesses. Whenever the Company acquires a business, consistent with current accounting guidance, the results of operations of the acquisition are included in the Company’s consolidated financial results from the date of the acquisition.

4. Fair Value Measurements

US GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value and establishes disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

The fair value hierarchy prescribed under US GAAP contains three levels as follows:

Level 1 –

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 –

Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 –

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

All financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) have been segregated into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

	As of November 26, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	34,893	$	—	$	—	$	34,893
Total	$	34,893	$	—	$	—	$	34,893

The Company’s cash equivalents listed above represent money market securities and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The Company does not adjust the quoted market price for such financial instruments.

5. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

In January 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to manage its exposure to interest rate movements and the related effect on its variable rate debt. The Company concluded that the interest rate swap met the criteria to qualify as a cash flow hedge under US GAAP. Accordingly, the Company reflected all changes in the fair value of the swap agreement in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity. The swap agreement, with a notional amount of $100.0 million, matured on March 14, 2011. The Company paid a fixed rate of 3.51% and received a variable rate tied to the three month LIBOR rate.

As of November 26, 2011 and August 27, 2011, there were no fair value amounts recorded by the Company related to this agreement as it matured on March 14, 2011. As of November 26, 2011, we had no outstanding derivative instruments.

The Company recorded any realized gains or losses from its interest rate swap as an adjustment to interest expense in its Consolidated Statements of Income. For the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010, the Company reclassified a loss from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense totaling $0.8 million.

6. 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 employees not under collective bargaining agreements. The Company matches a portion of the employee’s contribution and can make an additional contribution at its discretion. Contributions charged to expense under the plan for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010 were $2.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

Pension Plans and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans

The Company maintains an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for certain eligible employees of the Company, a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering union employees at one of its locations, and a frozen pension plan the Company assumed in connection with its acquisition of Textilease Corporation in fiscal 2004. The amount charged to expense related to these plans for both the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010 was $0.5 million.

7. Net Income Per Share

The Company calculates net income per share in accordance with US GAAP, which requires the Company to allocate income to its unvested participating securities as part of its earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations. The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share using the two-class method for amounts attributable to the Company’s shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (in thousands, except per share data):

	Thirteen weeks ended
	November 26,		November 27,
	2011		2010

Net income available to shareholders	$	25,802	$	23,764

Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common Stock	$	20,258	$	18,604
Class B Common Stock		5,068		4,704
Unvested participating shares		476		456
	$	25,802	$	23,764

Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common Stock		14,838		14,753
Class B Common Stock		4,641		4,663
Unvested participating shares		398		412
		19,877		19,828

Earnings per share for Basic:
Common Stock	$	1.37	$	1.26
Class B Common Stock	$	1.09	$	1.01

For diluted EPS, the Company is required to calculate diluted EPS for Common Stock using the more dilutive of the following two methods:

	•		The treasury stock method; or

	•		The two-class method assuming a participating security is not exercised or converted.

For the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010, the Company’s diluted EPS assumes the conversion of the Class B Common Stock into Common Stock and uses the two-class method for its unvested participating shares as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	Thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011							Thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010
	Earnings							Earnings
	to Common			Common				to Common			Common
	shareholders			Shares		EPS		shareholders			Shares		EPS

As reported - Basic	$	20,258			14,838	$	1.37	$	18,604			14,753	$	1.26

Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards		—			78				—			71
Class B Common Stock		5,068			4,641				4,704			4,663

Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested participating shares		463			—				443			—

Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to unvested participating shares		(439	)		—				(421	)		—

Diluted EPS – Common Stock	$	25,350			19,557	$	1.30	$	23,330			19,487	$	1.20

Share-based awards that would result in the issuance of 18,014 and 119,088 shares of Common Stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010 because they were anti-dilutive.

8. Asset Retirement Obligations

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 approximately one to thirty-two years.

A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement liability is as follows (in thousands):

	November 26, 2011
Beginning balance as of August 27, 2011	$	9,488
Accretion expense		158
Ending balance as of November 26, 2011	$	9,646

Asset retirement obligations are included in long-term accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company and its operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste and other substances. In particular, industrial laundries use and must dispose of detergent waste water and other residues, and, in the past used perchloroethylene and other dry cleaning solvents. The Company is attentive to the environmental concerns surrounding the disposal of these materials and has, through the years, taken measures to avoid their improper disposal. In the past, the Company has settled, or contributed to the settlement of, actions or claims brought against the Company relating to the disposal of hazardous materials and there can be no assurance that the Company will not have to expend material amounts to remediate the consequences of any such disposal in the future.

US GAAP requires that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. The Company regularly consults with attorneys and outside consultants in its consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances before recording a contingent liability. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management’s estimates of costs, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments and the input of outside consultants and attorneys based on changing legal or factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities.

Under environmental laws, an owner or lessee of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances located on, or in, or emanating from, such property, as well as related costs of investigation and property damage. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or lessee knew of, or was responsible for the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. There can be no assurances that acquired or leased locations have been operated in compliance with environmental laws and regulations or that future uses or conditions will not result in the imposition of liability upon the Company under such laws or expose the Company to third-party actions such as tort suits. The Company continues to address environmental conditions under terms of consent orders negotiated with the applicable environmental authorities or otherwise with respect to sites located in or related to Woburn, Massachusetts, Somerville, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, Uvalde, Texas, Stockton, California, three sites related to former operations in Williamstown, Vermont, as well as sites located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina and Landover, Maryland.

The Company has accrued certain costs related to the sites described above as it has been determined that the costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company continues to implement mitigation measures and to monitor environmental conditions at the Somerville, Massachusetts site. The Company also has potential exposure related to an additional parcel of land (the "Central Area") related to the Woburn, Massachusetts site discussed above. Currently, the consent decree for the Woburn site does not define or require any remediation work in the Central Area. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") has provided the Company and other signatories to the consent decree with comments on the design and implementation of groundwater and soil remedies at the Woburn site and investigation of environmental conditions in the Central Area. The Company, and other signatories, have implemented and proposed to do additional work at the Woburn site but many of the EPA’s comments remain to be resolved. The Company has accrued costs to perform certain work responsive to EPA's comments. In addition, in April 2011, the Company received a request from the EPA under the Clean Air Act for information regarding its handling of and operations with respect to the laundering of soiled towels. The Company has responded to this request.

The Company routinely reviews and evaluates sites that may require remediation and monitoring and determines its estimated costs based on various estimates and assumptions. These estimates are developed using its internal sources or by third party environmental engineers or other service providers. Internally developed estimates are based on:

	•		Management’s judgment and experience in remediating and monitoring the Company’s sites;

	•		Information available from regulatory agencies as to costs of remediation and monitoring;

	•		The number, financial resources and relative degree of responsibility of other potentially responsible parties (PRPs) who may be liable for remediation and monitoring of a specific site; and

	•		The typical allocation of costs among PRPs.

There is usually a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with each site. The Company’s accruals reflect the amount within the range that constitutes its best estimate. Where it believes that both the amount of a particular liability and the timing of the payments are reliably determinable, the Company adjusts the cost in current dollars using a rate of 3% for inflation until the time of expected payment and discounts the cost to present value using current risk-free interest rates. As of November 26, 2011, the risk-free interest rates utilized by the Company ranged from 2.0% to 2.9%.

For environmental liabilities that have been discounted, the Company includes interest accretion, based on the effective interest method, in selling and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The changes to the Company’s environmental liabilities for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	November 26, 2011
Beginning balance as of August 27, 2011	$	18,368
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided		(312	)
Insurance proceeds received		50
Interest accretion		158
Changes in discount rates		1,084

Balance as of November 26, 2011	$	19,348

Anticipated payments and insurance proceeds of currently identified environmental remediation liabilities as of November 26, 2011, for the next five fiscal years and thereafter, as measured in current dollars, are reflected below (in thousands).

(In thousands)	2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			Thereafter			Total
Estimated costs – current dollars	$	4,022		$	2,366		$	1,766		$	919		$	766		$	12,386		$	22,225

Estimated insurance proceeds		(109	)		(173	)		(159	)		(173	)		(159	)		(1,893	)		(2,666	)

Net anticipated costs	$	3,913		$	2,193		$	1,607		$	746		$	607		$	10,493		$	19,559

Effect of inflation																				7,143
Effect of discounting																				(7,354	)

Balance as of November 26, 2011																			$	19,348

Estimated insurance proceeds are primarily received from an annuity received as part of a legal settlement with an insurance company. Annual proceeds of approximately $0.3 million are deposited into an escrow account which funds remediation and monitoring costs for three sites related to former operations in Williamstown, Vermont. Annual proceeds received but not expended in the current year accumulate in this account and may be used in future years for costs related to this site through the year 2027. As of November 26, 2011, the balance in this escrow account, which is held in a trust and is not recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, was approximately $3.0 million. Also included in estimated insurance proceeds are amounts the Company is entitled to receive pursuant to legal settlements as reimbursements from three insurance companies for estimated costs at the site in Uvalde, Texas.

The Company’s nuclear garment decontamination facilities are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”), or, in certain cases, by the applicable state agency, and are subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities. There can be no assurance that such regulation will not lead to material disruptions in the Company’s garment decontamination business.

From time to time, the Company is also subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of its business operations, including litigation related to charges for certain ancillary services on invoices, personal injury claims, customer contract matters, employment claims and environmental matters as described above.

While it is impossible to ascertain the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including lawsuits and environmental contingencies, the Company believes that the aggregate amount of such liabilities, if any, in excess of amounts accrued or covered by insurance, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position and/or results of operations of the Company. It is possible, however, that future financial position or results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in the Company’s assumptions or strategies related to these contingencies or changes out of the Company’s control.

10. Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 38.3% for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, as compared to 37.0% for the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010. The Company’s tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 is higher than in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 primarily due to the fact that the 2011 rate benefited from the reversal of tax contingency reserves related to the resolution of certain state tax audits. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense which is consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods. During the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, there were no material changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits or the amount accrued for interest and penalties.

U.S. and Canadian federal income tax statutes have lapsed for filings up to and including fiscal years 2007 and 2004, respectively. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for periods prior to fiscal 2006. The Company is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly in the next 12 months.

11. Long-term Debt

On May 5, 2011, the Company entered into a $250.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which matures on May 4, 2016. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is able to borrow funds at variable interest rates based on, at the Company’s election, the Eurodollar rate or a base rate, plus in each case a spread based on the Company’s consolidated funded debt ratio. Availability of credit requires compliance with certain financial and other covenants, including a maximum consolidated funded debt ratio and minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company tests its compliance with these financial covenants on a fiscal quarterly basis. At November 26, 2011, the interest rates applicable to the Company’s borrowings under the Credit Agreement were calculated as LIBOR plus 125 basis points at the time of the respective borrowing. As of November 26, 2011, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $7.0 million, letters of credit amounting to $43.2 million and $199.8 million available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement.

Prior to May 5, 2011, the Company had a $225.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which was scheduled to mature on September 13, 2011. In connection with the Company's entry into the Credit Agreement, the Company terminated the Prior Credit Agreement.

On September 14, 2006, the Company issued $100.0 million of floating rates notes (“Floating Rate Notes”) pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement (“2006 Note Agreement”). The Floating Rate Notes mature on September 14, 2013, bear interest at LIBOR plus 50 basis points and may be repaid at face value two years from the date of issuance.

As of November 26, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement and the 2006 Note Agreement.

12. Other Comprehensive Income

The components of other comprehensive income are as follows (in thousands):

Thirteen weeks ended	November 26, 2011			November 27, 2010

Net income	$	25,802		$	23,764
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(7,398	)		2,891
Interest rate swap		—			456

Comprehensive income	$	18,404		$	27,111

13. Segment Reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Company’s chief executive officer. The Company has six operating segments based on the information reviewed by its chief executive officer: US Rental and Cleaning, Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing (“MFG”), Corporate, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”) and First Aid. The US Rental and Cleaning and Canadian Rental and Cleaning operating segments have been combined to form the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment, and as a result, the Company has five reporting segments.

The US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, uniforms and protective clothing and non-garment items in the United States and Canada. The laundry locations of the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment are referred to by the Company as “industrial laundries” or “industrial laundry locations.”

The MFG operating segment designs and manufactures uniforms and non-garment items solely for the purpose of providing these goods to the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment. MFG revenues are generated when goods are shipped from the Company’s manufacturing facilities, or its subcontract manufacturers, to other Company locations. These revenues are recorded at a transfer price which is typically in excess of the actual manufacturing cost. Products are carried in inventory and subsequently placed in service and amortized at this transfer price. On a consolidated basis, intercompany revenues and income are eliminated and the carrying value of inventories and rental merchandise in service is reduced to the manufacturing cost. Income before income taxes from MFG net of the intercompany MFG elimination offsets the merchandise amortization costs incurred by the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment as the merchandise costs of this reporting segment are amortized and recognized based on inventories purchased from MFG at the transfer price which is above the Company’s manufacturing cost.

The Corporate operating segment consists of costs associated with the Company’s distribution center, sales and marketing, information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, human resources, other general and administrative costs and interest expense. The revenues generated from the Corporate operating segment represent certain direct sales made by the Company directly from its distribution center. The products sold by this operating segment are the same products rented and sold by the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment. In the table below, no assets or capital expenditures are presented for the Corporate operating segment because no assets are allocated to this operating segment in the information reviewed by the chief executive officer. However, depreciation and amortization expense related to certain assets are reflected in income from operations and income before income taxes for the Corporate operating segment. The assets that give rise to this depreciation and amortization are included in the total assets of the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment as this is how they are tracked and reviewed by the Company. The majority of expenses accounted for within the Corporate segment relate to costs of the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning segment, with the remainder of the costs relating to the Specialty Garment and First

Aid segments.

The Specialty Garments operating segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for nuclear and cleanroom applications. The First Aid operating segment sells first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies.

The Company refers to the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate reporting segments combined as its “core laundry operations,” which is included as a subtotal in the following tables (in thousands):

	US and
	Canadian											Subtotal
	Rental and					Net Interco						Core Laundry		Specialty
Thirteen weeks ended	Cleaning			MFG		MFG Elim			Corporate			Operations		Garments		First Aid		Total

November 26, 2011
Revenues	$	269,210		$	41,386	$	(41,386	)	$	3,063		$	272,273	$	30,268	$	10,484	$	313,025

Income (loss) from operations	$	43,731		$	11,482	$	(32	)	$	(20,199	)	$	34,982	$	6,566	$	806	$	42,354

Interest (income) expense, net	$	(579	)	$	—	$	—		$	521		$	(58)	$	—	$	—	$	(58	)

Income (loss) before taxes	$	44,319		$	11,603	$	(32	)	$	(20,702	)	$	35,188	$	5,791	$	806	$	41,785

November 27, 2010
Revenues	$	236,192		$	37,705	$	(37,705	)	$	2,499		$	238,691	$	25,811	$	8,588	$	273,090

Income (loss) from operations	$	42,184		$	13,881	$	(5,059	)	$	(16,592	)	$	34,414	$	4,029	$	727	$	39,170

Interest (income) expense, net	$	(509	)	$	—	$	—		$	2,130		$	1,621	$	—	$	—	$	1,621

Income (loss) before taxes	$	42,687		$	13,829	$	(5,059	)	$	(18,717	)	$	32,740	$	4,254	$	727	$	37,721

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any documents incorporated by reference contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any documents incorporated by reference are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “will,” or the negative versions thereof, and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such forward looking statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. Such statements are highly dependent upon a variety of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties caused by the continuing adverse worldwide economic conditions, uncertainties regarding our ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquired businesses, uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation, our ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in our margin rates, seasonal fluctuations in business levels, our ability to preserve positive labor relationships and avoid becoming the target of corporate labor unionization campaigns that could disrupt our business, the effect of currency fluctuations on our results of operations and financial condition, our dependence on third parties to supply us with raw materials, any loss of key management or other personnel, increased costs as a result of any future changes in federal or state laws, rules and regulations or governmental interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, uncertainties regarding the price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor, the impact of adverse economic conditions and the current tight credit markets on our customers and such customers’ workforces, the level and duration of workforce reductions by our customers, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, demand and prices for our products and services, rampant criminal activity and instability in Mexico where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, additional professional and internal costs necessary for compliance with recent and proposed future changes in Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Stock Exchange and accounting rules, strikes and unemployment levels, our efforts to evaluate and potentially reduce internal costs, economic and other developments associated with the war on terrorism and its impact on the economy, general economic conditions and other factors described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2011 and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which such statements are made.

Business Overview

UniFirst Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, hereunder referred to as “we”, “our”, the “Company”, or “UniFirst”, is one of the largest providers of workplace uniforms and protective clothing in the United States. We design, manufacture, personalize, rent, clean, deliver, and sell a wide range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, aprons and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. We also rent industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products and other non-garment items, and provide first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies, to a variety of manufacturers, retailers and service companies.

We serve businesses of all sizes in numerous industry categories. Typical customers include automobile service centers and dealers, delivery services, food and general merchandise retailers, food processors and service operations, light manufacturers, maintenance facilities, restaurants, service companies, soft and durable goods wholesalers, transportation companies, and others who require employee clothing for image, identification, protection or utility purposes. We also provide our customers with restroom supplies, including air fresheners, paper products and hand soaps.

At certain specialized facilities, we also decontaminate and clean work clothes that may have been exposed to radioactive materials and service special cleanroom protective wear. Typical customers for these specialized services include government agencies, research and development laboratories, high technology companies and utilities operating nuclear reactors.

We continue to expand into additional geographic markets through acquisitions and organic growth. We currently service over 240,000 customer locations in the United States, Canada and Europe from 214 customer service, distribution and manufacturing facilities.

As discussed and described in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we have five reporting segments: US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing (“MFG”), Corporate, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”) and First Aid. We refer to the laundry locations of the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment as “industrial laundries” or “industrial laundry locations”, and to the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate reporting segments combined as our “core laundry operations.”

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion of the financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”). As such, management is required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that are believed to be reasonable based on the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, the most important and pervasive accounting policies used and areas most sensitive to material changes from external factors. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 27, 2011 for additional discussion of the application of these and other accounting policies.

Results of Operations

The following table presents certain selected financial data, including the percentage of revenues represented by each item, for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010. Cost of revenues presented in the table below include merchandise costs related to the amortization of rental merchandise in service and direct sales as well as labor and other production, service and delivery costs associated with operating our industrial laundries, Specialty Garments facilities, First Aid locations and our distribution center. Selling and administrative costs include costs related to our sales and marketing functions as well as general and administrative costs associated with our corporate offices and operating locations including information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, and human resources.

	Thirteen weeks ended

(In thousands, except percentages)	November 26, 2011		% of Revenues			November 27, 2010		% of Revenues			% Change

Revenues	$	313,025		100.0	%	$	273,090		100.0	%		14.6	%

Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (1)		195,139		62.3			163,235		59.8			19.5
Selling and administrative expenses (1)		59,124		18.9			55,183		20.2			7.1
Depreciation and amortization		16,408		5.2			15,502		5.7			5.8
Total operating expenses		270,671		86.5			233,920		85.7			15.7

Income from operations		42,354		13.5			39,170		14.3			8.1

Other expense (income)		569		0.2			1,449		0.5			-60.7

Income before income taxes		41,785		13.3			37,721		13.8			10.8
Provision for income taxes		15,983		5.1			13,957		5.1			14.5

Net income	$	25,802		8.2	%	$	23,764		8.7	%		8.6	%

(1) Exclusive of depreciation on our property, plant and equipment and amortization on our intangible assets.

General

We derive our revenues through the design, manufacture, personalization, rental, cleaning, delivering, and selling of a wide range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks and aprons and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. We also rent industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products, other non-garment items, and provide first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies, to a variety of manufacturers, retailers and service companies. We have five reporting segments, US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing (“MFG”), Corporate, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”), and First Aid. We refer to the US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate reporting segments combined as our “core laundry operations.”

Cost of revenues include merchandise costs related to the amortization of rental merchandise in service and direct sales as well as labor and other production, service and delivery costs, and distribution costs associated with operating our core laundry operations, Specialty Garments facilities, and First Aid locations. Selling and administrative costs include costs related to our sales and marketing functions as well as general and administrative costs associated with our corporate offices and operating locations including information systems, engineering, materials management, manufacturing planning, finance, budgeting, and human resources.

As part of our recent revenue growth, we have been experiencing increased merchandise costs. This increase has been primarily due to our increased investment in merchandise to the levels needed to support our growing wearer base. During fiscal 2009 and early fiscal 2010, our results of operations benefited from our utilization of used garments that our customers returned to us as a result of reductions in their workforces. Since fiscal 2010, we have put significantly more new garments into service to meet the day-to-day needs of our existing wearer base. In addition, increased new account sales, including some larger national accounts, have also required us to make a large initial investment in merchandise. The increased merchandise cost is also the result of strong growth in our flame resistant and high visibility product lines. This growth is the result of increased oil and natural gas exploration as well as tighter regulations that have caused uniform wearers in a number of industries to convert to these more protective garments. In addition to a higher number of new garments being placed in service to support our customer base, we have also begun to feel the impact of higher fabric prices in our overall merchandise costs. We expect the increase in merchandise costs to continue in fiscal 2012, which will have a negative effect on our margins throughout this period.

The price of fuel and energy needed to run our vehicles and equipment is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by OPEC and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries, regional production patterns, limits on refining capacities, natural disasters and environmental concerns. As discussed below, the recent increases in fuel costs have had a negative impact on our delivery and production costs. Further increases in fuel costs could impact our results going forward.

The current worldwide economic weakness as well as high unemployment rates in the U.S. and Canada may negatively impact our revenues and operating performance in fiscal 2012 and beyond due to the impact on spending plans and employment levels of our customers and sales prospects.

Thirteen Weeks Ended November 26, 2011 Compared with Thirteen Weeks Ended November 27, 2010

Revenues

	November 26,		November 27,		Dollar		Percent
(In thousands, except percentages)	2011		2010		Change		Change

Core Laundry Operations	$	272,273	$	238,691	$	33,582		14.1	%
Specialty Garments		30,268		25,811		4,457		17.3
First Aid		10,484		8,588		1,896		22.1
Consolidated total	$	313,025	$	273,090	$	39,935		14.6	%

For the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, our consolidated revenues increased by $39.9 million from the comparable period in fiscal 2011, or 14.6%. This increase was primarily driven by a $33.6 million increase in revenues from our core laundry operations. Core laundry operations’ revenue increased to $272.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 from $238.7 million for the comparable period of fiscal 2011, or 14.1%. This increase in the core laundry operations’ revenue was attributable to positive organic growth of 12.1%. Organic growth is comprised of new sales, additions to our existing customer base and price increases offset by lost accounts and reductions to our existing customer base. Our positive organic growth rate in our core laundry operations was accompanied by positive acquisition-related growth of 1.9% and the effect of favorable fluctuations in the Canadian foreign exchange rate, which accounted for a 0.1% increase in revenue for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2011.

Specialty Garments’ revenues increased to $30.3 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2012 from $25.8 million in the comparable period of 2011, an increase of 17.3%. The increase in this segment’s revenues was primarily related to the timing and length of our customers’ power reactor outages in the U.S. and Canadian markets, increased project based revenues, as well as a strong performance from the segment’s European and clean room operations. First Aid revenues increased by $1.9 million, or 22.1%, as a result of better performance from the segment’s wholesale distribution and pill packaging operations.

Cost of Revenues

For the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, cost of revenues increased to 62.3% of revenues, or $195.1 million, from 59.8% of revenues, or $163.2 million, for the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in overall merchandise costs as a percentage of revenues in our core laundry operations as well as higher fuel costs as a percentage of revenues associated with operating our fleet of delivery trucks. These increases were partially offset by lower payroll and payroll-related costs as a percentage of revenues in our core laundry operations, primarily due to the strong revenue growth this segment experienced in the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011. In addition, the cost of revenues for the Specialty Garments’ segment was also lower as a percentage of revenues due to the strong revenue growth during the quarter.

Selling and Administrative Expense

Our selling and administrative expenses decreased to 18.9% of revenues, or $59.1 million, for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 from 20.2% of revenues, or $55.2 million, for the comparable period of fiscal 2011. This decrease was due to lower payroll and payroll-related costs as a percentage of revenues, primarily due to the strong revenue growth we experienced in the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011. In the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, we recorded a charge of $1.1 million related to the effect of discount rate fluctuations on the value of our environmental liabilities; however, this was offset by environmental insurance recoveries totaling $1.1 million recorded during the quarter. In the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010, we recorded a benefit of $0.8 million related to the effect of discount rate fluctuations on the value of our environmental liabilities.

Depreciation and Amortization

Our depreciation and amortization expense was $16.4 million, or 5.2% of revenues, for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 compared to $15.5 million, or 5.7% of revenues, for the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was due to capital expenditure and acquisition activity in earlier periods.

Income from Operations

For the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 and November 27, 2010, the revenue growth in our core laundry operations, as well as the change in our cost of revenues, discussed above, resulted in the following changes in our income from operations:

	November 26,		November 27,		Dollar		Percent
(In thousands, except percentages)	2011		2010		Change		Change

Core Laundry Operations	$	34,982	$	34,414	$	568		1.7	%
Specialty Garments		6,566		4,029		2,537		63.0
First Aid		806		727		79		10.8
Consolidated total	$	42,354	$	39,170	$	3,184		8.1	%

Other Expense (income)

Other expense (income), which includes interest expense, interest income and foreign currency exchange loss (gain) decreased to $0.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 from $1.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010. The decrease was due to net interest expense in the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010 of $1.6 million compared to net interest income in the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 of $0.1 million. This decrease was primarily due to our repayment of $75.0 million in fixed-rate notes in June 2011 as well as the effect of an interest rate swap that matured in March 2011. The benefit related to lower net interest expense was partially offset by foreign exchange losses of $0.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to foreign exchange gains of $0.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 38.3% for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, as compared to 37.0% for the thirteen weeks ended November 27, 2010. Our tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 is higher than in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 primarily due to the fact that the 2011 rate benefited from the reversal of tax contingency reserves related to the resolution of certain state tax audits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

As of November 26, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $54.1 million and working capital of $269.8 million. We believe that current cash and cash equivalent balances, cash generated from operations and amounts available under our Credit Agreement (defined below) will be sufficient to meet our current anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months.

Sources and Uses of Cash

During the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, we generated cash from operating activities of $30.7 million resulting primarily from net income of $25.8 million, net of non-cash amounts charged for depreciation, amortization and accretion of $16.8 million and share-based compensation of $1.7 million. We also generated cash as a result of increases in accounts payable and accruals of $4.2 million, increases in accrued and deferred taxes of $6.7 million and decreases in inventories of $2.3 million. These inflows were partially offset by increases in accounts receivable of $16.1 million, increases in rental merchandise in service of $7.5 million and increases in prepaid expenses of $3.1 million. In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we used cash to, among other things, invest $14.0 million in capital expenditures and pay down debt in the amount of approximately $8.4 million.

We have accumulated $44.9 million in cash outside the United States that is expected to be invested indefinitely in our foreign subsidiaries. If these funds were distributed to the U.S. in the form of dividends, the Company would likely be subject to additional U.S. income taxes.

Long-Term Debt and Borrowing Capacity

On May 5, 2011, we entered into a $250.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which matures on May 4, 2016. Under the Credit Agreement, we are able to borrow funds at variable interest rates based on, at our election, the Eurodollar rate or a base rate, plus in each case a spread based on our consolidated funded debt ratio. Availability of credit requires compliance with certain financial and other covenants, including a maximum consolidated funded debt ratio and minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement. We test our compliance with these financial covenants on a fiscal quarterly basis. At November 26, 2011, the interest rates applicable to our borrowings under the Credit Agreement were calculated as LIBOR plus 125 basis points at the time of the respective borrowing. As of November 26, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings of $7.0 million, letters of credit amounting to $43.2 million and $199.8 million available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement.

Prior to May 5, 2011, we had a $225.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which was scheduled to mature on September 13, 2011. In connection with our entry into the Credit Agreement, we terminated the Prior Credit Agreement.

On September 14, 2006, we issued $100.0 million of floating rates notes (“Floating Rate Notes”) pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement (“2006 Note Agreement”). The Floating Rate Notes mature on September 14, 2013, bear interest at LIBOR plus 50 basis points and may be repaid at face value two years from the date of issuance.

As of November 26, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement and the 2006 Note Agreement.

Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes and other substances. In particular, industrial laundries currently use and must dispose of detergent waste water and other residues, and, in the past, used perchloroethylene and other dry cleaning solvents. We are attentive to the environmental concerns surrounding the disposal of these materials and have, through the years, taken measures to avoid their improper disposal. Over the years, we have settled, or contributed to the settlement of, actions or claims brought against us relating to the disposal of hazardous materials and there can be no assurance that we will not have to expend material amounts to remediate the consequences of any such disposal in the future.

US GAAP requires that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. We regularly consult with attorneys and outside consultants in our consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances before recording a contingent liability. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management’s estimates of costs, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments and the input of outside consultants and attorneys based on changing legal or factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities.

Under environmental laws, an owner or lessee of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances located on, or in, or emanating from such property, as well as related costs of investigation and property damage. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or lessee knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. There can be no assurances that acquired or leased locations have been operated in compliance with environmental laws and regulations or that future uses or conditions will not result in the imposition of liability upon our Company under such laws or expose our Company to third party actions such as tort suits. We continue to address environmental conditions under terms of consent orders negotiated with the applicable environmental authorities or otherwise with respect to sites located in or related to Woburn, Massachusetts, Somerville, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, Uvalde, Texas, Stockton, California, three sites in Williamstown, Vermont, as well as sites located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina and Landover, Maryland.

We have accrued certain costs related to the sites described above as it has been determined that the costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. We continue to implement mitigation measures and to monitor environmental conditions at the Somerville, Massachusetts site. We also have potential exposure related to an additional parcel of land (the “Central Area”) related to the Woburn, Massachusetts site discussed above. Currently, the consent decree for the Woburn site does not define or require any remediation work in the Central Area. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) has provided us and other signatories to the consent decree with comments on the design and implementation of groundwater and soil remedies at the Woburn site and investigation of environmental conditions in the Central Area. We, and other signatories, have implemented and proposed to do additional work at the Woburn site but many of the EPA’s comments remain to be resolved. We have accrued costs to perform certain work responsive to EPA's comments. In addition, in April 2011, we received a request from the EPA under the Clean Air Act for information regarding our handling of and operations with respect to the laundering of soiled towels. We have responded to this request.

We routinely review and evaluate sites that may require remediation and monitoring and determine our estimated costs based on various estimates and assumptions. These estimates are developed using our internal sources or by third-party environmental engineers or other service providers. Internally developed estimates are based on:

	•		Management’s judgment and experience in remediating and monitoring our sites;

	•		Information available from regulatory agencies as to costs of remediation and monitoring;

	•		The number, financial resources and relative degree of responsibility of other potentially responsible parties (PRPs) who may be liable for remediation and monitoring of a specific site; and

	•		The typical allocation of costs among PRPs.

There is usually a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with each site. Our accruals represent the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. When we believe that both the amount of a particular liability and the timing of the payments are reliably determinable, we adjust the cost in current dollars using a rate of 3% for inflation until the time of expected payment and discount the cost to present value using current risk-free interest rates. As of November 26, 2011, the risk-free interest rates we utilized ranged from 2.0% to 2.9%.

For environmental liabilities that have been discounted, we include interest accretion, based on the effective interest method, in selling and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The changes to the amounts of our environmental liabilities for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	November 26, 2011
Beginning balance as of August 27, 2011	$	18,368
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided		(312	)
Insurance proceeds received		50
Interest accretion		158
Changes in discount rates		1,084

Balance as of November 26, 2011	$	19,348

Anticipated payments and insurance proceeds relating to currently identified environmental remediation liabilities as of November 26, 2011, for the next five fiscal years and thereafter, as measured in current dollars, are reflected below (in thousands).

Fiscal year ended August	2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			Thereafter			Total
Estimated costs – current dollars	$	4,022		$	2,366		$	1,766		$	919		$	766		$	12,386		$	22,225

Estimated insurance proceeds		(109	)		(173	)		(159	)		(173	)		(159	)		(1,893	)		(2,666	)

Net anticipated costs	$	3,913		$	2,193		$	1,607		$	746		$	607		$	10,493		$	19,559

Effect of inflation																				7,143
Effect of discounting																				(7,354	)

Balance as of November 26, 2011																			$	19,348

Estimated insurance proceeds are primarily received from an annuity received as part of our legal settlement with an insurance company. Annual proceeds of approximately $0.3 million are deposited into an escrow account which funds remediation and monitoring costs for three sites related to our former operations in Williamstown, Vermont. Annual proceeds received but not expended in the current year accumulate in this account and may be used in future years for costs related to this site through the year 2027. As of November 26, 2011, the balance in this escrow account, which is held in a trust and is not recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheet, was approximately $3.0 million. Also included in estimated insurance proceeds are amounts we are entitled to receive pursuant to legal settlements as reimbursements from three insurance companies for estimated costs at the site in Uvalde, Texas.

Our nuclear garment decontamination facilities are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”), or, in certain cases, by the applicable state agency, and are subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities. There can be no assurance that such regulation will not lead to material disruptions in our garment decontamination business.

From time to time, we are also subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of our business operations, including litigation related to charges for certain ancillary services on invoices, personal injury claims, customer contract matters, employment claims and environmental matters as described above.

While it is impossible for us to ascertain the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including lawsuits and environmental contingencies, we believe that the aggregate amount of such liabilities, if any, in excess of amounts we have accrued or covered by insurance, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. It is possible, however, that future financial position and/or results of operations for any particular future period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or strategies related to these contingencies or changes out of our control.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of November 26, 2011, we did not have any off-balance-sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K.

Seasonality

Historically, our revenues and operating results have varied from quarter to quarter and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future. These fluctuations have been due to a number of factors, including: general economic conditions in our markets; the timing of acquisitions and of commencing start-up operations and related costs; our effectiveness in integrating acquired businesses and start-up operations; the timing of nuclear plant outages; capital expenditures; seasonal rental and purchasing patterns of our customers; and price changes in response to competitive factors. In addition, our operating results historically have been lower during the second and fourth fiscal quarters than during the other quarters of the fiscal year. The operating results for any historical quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire fiscal year or any other interim periods.

Effects of Inflation

In general, we believe that our results of operations are not dependent on moderate changes in the inflation rate. Historically, we have been able to manage the impacts of more significant changes in inflation rates through our customer relationships, customer agreements that generally provide for price increases consistent with the rate of inflation, and continued focus on improvements of operational productivity.

Energy Costs

Significant increases in energy costs, specifically with respect to natural gas and gasoline, can materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. The recent increases in fuel costs have had a negative impact on our delivery and production costs. Further increases in fuel costs could impact our results going forward.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

As of November 26, 2011, there were no material changes in our contractual obligations that were disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2011.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance to amend existing requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures. The guidance expands the disclosure requirements around fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and requires disclosure of the level in the fair value hierarchy of items that are not measured at fair value but whose fair value must be disclosed. It also clarifies and expands upon existing requirements for fair value measurements of financial assets and liabilities as well as instruments classified in shareholders’ equity. The guidance is effective for interim and annual financial periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance that improves the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. The amendments to the existing standard require that all nonowner changes in shareholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments to the existing standard do not change the current option for presenting components of OCI gross or net of the effect of income taxes, provided that such tax effects are presented in the statement in which OCI is presented or disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Additionally, the standard does not affect the calculation or reporting of earnings per share. This guidance is effective for interim and annual financial periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is to be applied retrospectively, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance intended to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test for goodwill and impairment. This guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. Also, the guidance improves the examples of events and circumstances that an entity having a reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount should consider in determining whether to measure an impairment loss, if any, under the second step of the goodwill impairment test. This guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We have determined that all of our foreign subsidiaries operate primarily in local currencies that represent the functional currencies of such subsidiaries. All assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of assets and liabilities is recorded as a component of shareholders’ equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each month of the fiscal year. As such, our financial condition and operating results are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to currencies in foreign countries. Revenues denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar represented approximately 9% of total consolidated revenues for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, and total assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar represented approximately 10% of total consolidated assets at November 26, 2011. If exchange rates had increased or decreased by 10% from the actual rates in effect during the thirteen weeks ended and as of November 26, 2011, our revenues and assets for the thirteen weeks ended and as of November 26, 2011 would have increased or decreased by approximately $2.8 million and $12.1 million, respectively.

We do not operate a hedging program to mitigate the effect of a significant change in the value of our foreign subsidiaries functional currencies, which include the Canadian Dollar, Euro, British Pound, and Mexican Peso, as compared to the U.S. dollar. Any gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions, including exchange rate fluctuations on intercompany accounts, are reported as transaction (gains) losses in our other expense (income). The intercompany payables and receivables are denominated in Canadian Dollars, Euros, British Pounds and Mexican Pesos. During the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, transaction losses included in other expense (income) were approximately $0.6 million. If the exchange rates had changed by 10% during the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, we would have recognized exchange gains or losses of approximately $1.0 million.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates which may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In seeking to minimize the risks from interest rate fluctuations, we manage these exposures through our regular operating and financing activities. We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily through our borrowings under our Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks and our Floating Rate Notes which were purchased by a group of insurance companies pursuant to the 2006 Note Agreement. Under both agreements, we borrow funds at variable interest rates based on the Eurodollar rate or LIBOR rates. If the LIBOR and Eurodollar rates fluctuated by 10% from the actual rates in effect during the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011, our interest expense would have fluctuated by approximately $26 thousand from the interest expense recognized for the thirteen weeks ended November 26, 2011.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company required to be disclosed by the Company in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in designing and evaluating the controls and procedures. We continue to review our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the current conduct of our business operations, including personal injury, customer contract, employment claims and environmental matters as described in our Consolidated Financial Statements. We maintain insurance coverage providing indemnification against many of such claims, and we do not expect that we will sustain any material loss as a result thereof. Refer to Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

To our knowledge, there have been no material changes in the risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2011. In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2011, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

*		31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Ronald D. Croatti

*		31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Steven S. Sintros

**		32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

**		32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

***

101 The following materials from UniFirst Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 26, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

*		Filed herewith

**		Furnished herewith

***

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

January 5, 2012		UniFirst Corporation

	By:	/s/ Ronald D. Croatti
		Ronald D. Croatti
		President and Chief Executive Officer



January 5, 2012

	By:	/s/ Steven S. Sintros
		Steven S. Sintros
		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

*		31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Ronald D. Croatti

*		31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Steven S. Sintros

**		32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

**		32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

***

*		Filed herewith

**		Furnished herewith

***