WILMINGTON, Mass., Aug. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), an industry leader in the supply and servicing of uniforms, workwear, and facility service products, has again secured positions on both Selling Power magazine’s annual list of the “50 Best Companies to Sell For,” and Apparel magazine’s “Top 50” apparel companies list.

UniFirst ranked No. 33 on Selling Power’s 50 Best Companies to Sell For list, continuing the company’s notable presence on the list every year since 2003. Companies are evaluated in the following areas: compensation and benefits; sales representative onboarding and sales enablement; sales training and coaching; and sales culture. UniFirst scored higher than such well-known companies as Google, Microsoft, and FedEx.

This year also marks the 12 th consecutive year that Apparel magazine ranked UniFirst as one of America’s top 50 apparel companies, coming in at 29. To be eligible, public companies had to record at least $100 million in annual sales; rankings were based on overall performance and financial management. UniFirst appears on the Top 50 alongside some of America’s most popular clothing companies including Vince (1), Columbia Sportswear (31), Ralph Lauren (45), and Land’s End (48).

“We’re honored, once again, for being recognized as a leader in the apparel industry, and for having one of the most exceptional and customer-focused sales forces anywhere,” says David Katz, UniFirst senior vice president, sales and marketing. “One of the major reasons behind our continued success is the dedication of our 14,000 employee Team Partners throughout the U.S. and Canada and their ability to deliver world-class service to our 300,000 business customers, while persevering to achieve continuous growth.”

Selling Power magazine publisher and CEO Gerhard Gschwandtner says it is vital to recognize companies that are creating excellent sales teams today. “UniFirst's strong commitment to the customer has helped keep their sales organization competitive and highly worthy of placement on our 50 Best Companies to Sell For list,” says Gschwandtner. “Their core values set a shining example for their sales team and help elevate the level of professionalism in selling.”

Apparel magazine editor in chief Jordan Speer attributes UniFirst’s year-after-year appearance on the Top 50 to the company's focus on the customer. “UniFirst has remained profitable in part by focusing on its customers' workplace needs while adapting to an everchanging marketplace,” says Speer.

For more on UniFirst, Apparel magazine, or Selling Power magazine, you may visit their websites: www.UniFirst.com , www.apparelmag.com , and www.sellingpower.com .

About UniFirst Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, as well as the delivery of facility service programs. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also provides first aid and safety products, and manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products, and with 250 service locations, 300,000 customer locations, and 14,000 employee Team Partners, the company outfits nearly 2 million workers each business day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 800.455.7654 or visit UniFirst.com.

Donna Kish, PR/Communications Specialist

UniFirst Corporation 68 Jonspin Road Wilmington, MA 01187 Phone: 978.527.3871 Email:  Donna_Kish@UniFirst.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...711eb2725b