UniFirst says its commitment to Owensboro remains unchanged following the announcement that Cintas Corp. plans to acquire the company in a $5.5 billion deal, and as local leaders say they are watching closely to see what the move could mean for the company’s large local operation.
“UniFirst has operated in Owensboro for nearly 30 years, and our commitment to the community remains as strong as ever,” a UniFirst spokesperson said in a statement. “We recently completed our planned facility expansion and expect it to be operational in early April. We appreciate the significant contributions of our local Team Partners and look forward to continuing to operate out of the facility for years to come.”
The proposed acquisition, announced March 11, still requires shareholder and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Until then, the companies will continue operating independently.
The development has drawn particular attention in Owensboro, where UniFirst operates a large distribution and fulfillment center that employs more than 520 people and recently completed a $28 million expansion.
Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson said the announcement came as a surprise, but said he believes the acquisition could ultimately be positive for the community.
“I was shocked. I didn’t know anything about it,” Watson said. “I talked to several people who work out there, and they were surprised as well.”
Watson said mergers and acquisitions are a common part of business and said he hopes the transition brings continued stability for the local workforce.
“Anytime we can have a strong corporate citizen like Cintas come in and join us, that’s a good thing,” Watson said. “The way business works today, there are a lot of similarities between companies like these, and executives move between organizations and keep that momentum going.”
Watson said his main concern was simply ensuring the Owensboro operation remains a fixture in the community.
“I’m just glad UniFirst didn’t leave,” Watson said. “This is a good company that’s been part of our community for a long time, so hopefully we just keep marching forward.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said acquisitions often create uncertainty for employees and communities, but he believes the recent investment in the Owensboro facility could help secure its future.
“When something like this happens, employees always wonder what it’s going to look like for them,” Castlen said. “And as a community with as many employees as UniFirst has, it certainly makes us wonder what the horizon looks like.”
However, Castlen said the company’s recent expansion project could make the Owensboro site an attractive part of the combined company’s network.
“They just invested a substantial amount of money expanding that facility,” Castlen said. “When you make that kind of investment and when the site is doing something unique within the company, I like to think that makes it a very strong part of the operation and something Cintas would want to keep and hopefully grow.”
Castlen said he was not aware of the acquisition before it was announced and quickly reached out to local economic development officials for more information.
“I called Claude Bacon right away to see if he had heard anything,” Castlen said. “He said they had reached out to their contact at UniFirst and were told it was business as normal until they hear otherwise.”
Castlen added that it is common for acquiring companies to remain quiet during the early stages of a deal.
“When I was in banking, I was on both sides of acquisitions,” Castlen said. “Generally, the buyer is very quiet until decisions are made. Then you find out what they want you to know.”
He acknowledged that some administrative changes are possible over time, but said it is too early to know how the acquisition could affect operations locally.
“I hope it doesn’t mean any kind of job loss,” Castlen said. “But until the deal closes and the companies figure out how everything fits together, it’s really hard to know what that might look like.”
Cintas declined to comment for this story.
Dave Kirk, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is hopeful the transition will strengthen relationships with the company’s new ownership.
“While we don’t know details yet, we’re excited to meet with Cintas to talk about the expansion,” Kirk said. “We’ve had a fantastic relationship with UniFirst, and I hope to not only continue that with Cintas but grow it. UniFirst has been a great corporate citizen in our community.”
Claude Bacon, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, said the organization was not aware of the acquisition prior to the public announcement, which he said is typical in corporate transactions of this scale.
“Overall, I view this development positively, as UniFirst’s strength and success are what made the company an attractive acquisition target,” Bacon said. “They have been a valued partner in our community for many years, and we now look forward to building a strong relationship with Cintas as we move forward together.”
UniFirst’s Owensboro facility processes more than 20 million garments annually for customers across the United States and Canada. The recently completed expansion added approximately 109,000 square feet, bringing the total size of the complex to about 469,000 square feet and incorporating robotics, advanced conveyor systems, and other technology aimed at improving efficiency and order accuracy.
Local leaders said they will continue monitoring developments as the acquisition process moves forward, with hopes that the Owensboro operation remains an important part of the company’s future.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times