Kevin JohnsonCintas is an American corporation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, which offers business supplies and services. The company was founded in 1929 by Richard and Amelia Farmer as Acme Industrial Laundry to launder old rags from factories and resell them to businesses. In 1959, Acme started offering uniform rental services. The company rebranded to Cintas in 1972 and went public in 1983.
As of Mar 2023, Cintas served more than one million businesses. The company offers several products and services, including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid kits, safety training, and fire extinguishers. [1]
Cintas provides products and services to help business keep their facilities clean and enhance the safety of their employees and customers. The company expanded its offering through acquisitions, including Omni Services, Petragon, American First Aid, Respond Industries, Kamp Fire Equipment, Zee Medical, and G&K Services.
In May 2023, Cintas was named to the USA Today Climate Leader 2023 list; however, Cintas faces stiff competition from Aramark, UniFirst, and Ecolab. [2]
Here is an in-depth analysis of Cintas’ top 10 competitors and alternatives:
1. Aramark
Year founded: 1959
Headquarter: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aramark is an American company that offers food, facilities, and uniform services. It serves educational institutions, companies, sports teams, healthcare providers, tourist destinations, cultural attractions, and municipalities. In 2023, Aramark operated in 20 countries globally, in addition to North America and Canada.
Aramark and Cintas offer facilities and uniform services and cater to businesses and non-profit organizations across sectors. In Jan 2023, Newsweek named Aramark on its America’s Most Responsible Companies list. This award recognizes Aramark’s commitment to people and the planet under the company’s sustainability plan. Aramark is the top Cintas competitor and alternative. [3]
2. UniFirst
Year founded: 1936
Headquarter: Wilmington, Massachusetts
UniFirst is a uniform rental company. The business manufactures its company-branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products. In May 2023, UniFirst had 14,000 employees and operated 260 service facilities and over 300,000 customer locations.
UniFirst outfits over 2 million workers each business day. Both Cintas and UniFirst offer first aid and safety products; however, UniFirst also manages specialized garment programs for the nuclear industry. UniFirst is the best alternative to Cintas for uniform and workwear rental. [4]
3. Ecolab Inc.
Year founded: 1923
Headquarter: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Ecolab is an American corporation specializing in water treatment, purification, cleaning, and hygiene. The company offers water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services. In 2022, Ecolab had 47,000 employees across the world.
Ecolab initially provided cleaning products and services for hotel carpets but later expanded into other sectors. Brick-and-mortar businesses can rely on Ecolab or Cintas to keep their facilities clean and safe for employees and customers.
In Feb 2023, Ecolab was awarded as one of the Most Admired Companies in the world by Fortune magazine for the ninth year in a row. Ecolab is one of the top competitors for Cintas in the cleaning and hygiene industry. [5]
4. Alsco Uniforms
Year founded: 1889
Headquarter: Salt Lake City, Utah
Alsco is a linen and uniform-rental business service provider. The company serves clients in the automotive, restaurant, healthcare, industrial, and food processing industries. In 2022, Alsco had over 20,000 employees.
Alsco is an industry leader in uniform rental services and also offers linen rentals, apparel cleaning, washroom and floorcare supplies, workwear, and first aid kits.
In Feb 2023, Alsco partnered with Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) Bommarito Autosport and signed a multi-race agreement to sponsor JAR’s racing driver Jeb Burton. This deal can promote Alsco’s products and services to consumers in the automotive sector. Alsco Uniforms is one of the best alternatives to Cintas for uniform rentals. [6]
5. The Budd Group
Year founded: 1963
Headquarter: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Budd Group is a facilities services company founded by Richard Budd. The family-owned company serves businesses and educational institutions across the southeast US. In Feb 2023, The Budd Group employed over 5,000 associates in 13 states. [7]
The Budd Group caters to colleges, universities, athletic venues, school districts, hospitals, corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, and homeowner associations. In May 2022, the company introduced its BreatheWell air quality program to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and create healthier indoor environments. The Budd Group is one of the top competitors for Cintas. [8]
6. VF Corporation
Year founded: 1899
Headquarter: Denver, Colorado
VF Corporation is a global apparel and footwear company. The company offers clothing for different target markets, including outdoor, sportswear, activewear, and workwear. In 2022, VF Corp employed around 35,000 people.
VF Corp’s workwear segment competes against Cintas’ uniform department; however, VF Corp sells work uniforms, while Cintas rents its workwear to businesses. In Nov 2022, VF Corp adopted a circular production model into its sustainability plan. The company seeks to source 100% of its most-used materials from regenerative, recycled, or renewable sources by 2030. VF Corp is one of the best alternatives to Cintas for workwear. [9]
7. Prudential Overall Supply
Year founded: 1932
Headquarter: Irvine, California
Prudential Overall Supply is an American company that provides reusable work apparel and related textiles. Businesses can rely on its certified Clean Green service to access floor mats, workwear, safety uniforms, career apparel, casual wear, cleanroom garments, wiping towels, and facility products. In 2023, Prudential had over 28,000 customers in the US and Canada.
Prudential offers work apparel, fire-resistant clothing, facilities supplies, cleaning, and flooring services. The company serves municipal, service industry, and industrial sectors. In May 2023, Prudential celebrated its 91st anniversary. It is one of the top competitors for Cintas. [10]
8. W.W. Grainger
Year founded: 1927
Headquarter: Lake Forest, Illinois
Grainger is a Fortune 500 industrial supply company that offers MRO (maintenance, repair, and operating) products and safety supplies. The company operates globally through online channels, 598 branches, and 33 distribution centers. In 2022, Grainger had 24,000 employees and more than 4.5 million customers. [11]
Both Grainger and Cintas offer safety supplies, but Grainger is a broad-line industrial supply distributor, while Cintas is a specialty business service company. In 2022, Grainger’s Endless Assortment segment offered over 11 million items via Zoro.com and 20 million products under MonotaRO.com.
Small businesses in North America, Japan, and the UK can rely on this segment to access safety supplies. Grainger is one of the top competitors for Cintas in the safety supply sector.
9. ABM Industries Inc.
Year founded: 1909
Headquarter: New York City, New York
ABM is an integrated facility management provider. The company offers comprehensive facility services, including janitorial, HVAC and mechanical, landscape and turf, engineering, electrical and lighting, parking, and energy solutions. In 2023, ABM employed over 100,000 workers and operated around 350 offices globally.
ABM serves over 20,000 clients worldwide. The company targets manufacturing plants, data centers, commercial office buildings, universities, entertainment venues, hospitals, airports, and distribution centers.
In 2022, ABM deployed its cloud-based ERP system and announced its plan to build an Electrification Center in Atlanta, Georgia. ABM is one of the best alternatives to Cintas for facility services. [12]
10. Mission Linen Supply
Year founded: 1930
Headquarter: Santa Barbara, California
Mission Linen provides rental and direct-sale uniforms and linens. The company caters to the restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, municipality, retail, education, security, transportation, and entertainment sectors. In 2022, Mission Linen employed around 2,500 people in five western US states.
Mission Linen offers work apparel, linen, towels, facility supplies, and first aid solutions. Businesses can rely on the company’s online ordering platforms to access pre-approved products and set allowances for designated employees. Cintas and Mission Linen offer uniform rentals, commercial cleaning supplies, and facility service. Mission Linen Supply is a worthy alternative to Cintas. [13]
References & more information
- Cintas Corporation (2023, Mar 29). Cintas Corporation Announces Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Results. Business Wire
- Cintas Corporation (2023, May 31). Cintas Named a USA Today Climate Leader 2023. Business Wire
- Aramark (2023, Jan 12). Aramark Named to Newsweek’s 2023 List of America’s Most Responsible Companies. Aramark.com
- UniFirst Corporation (2023, May 30). UniFirst Corporation Plans to Announce Third Quarter Results. Globe Newswire
- Ecolab Inc., (2023, Feb 1). Ecolab Named One of The World’s Most Admired Companies for Ninth Consecutive Year. Ecolab.com
- Speedway Digest Staff (2023, Feb 28). Alsco Uniforms continues its partnership with driver Jeb Burton for 2023. Speedway Digest
- Streiff, M. (2023, Feb 20). The Budd Group Celebrates 60 Years of Service and Excellence. BuddGroup.com
- The Budd Group (2023, May 2). The Budd Group Introduces BreatheWell Air Quality Program. Business Wire
- Zwieglinska, Z. (2022, Dec 20). Inside VF Corp’s plans for The North Face, Supreme, and a circular economy. Glossy
- POS Staff Writer (2023, May 8). Prudential Overall Supply Celebrates 91st anniversary. American Laundry News
- W. Grainger, Inc. (2023, Feb 2). Grainger reports results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022. PRNewswire
- ABM Industries Inc. (2023, Jun 6). ABM Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results. Globe Newswire
- Ross, J. (2023, Apr 28). Uniforms for your business: Is it better to rent or buy? Missionlinen.com
- Featured Image by Beth Macdonald
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