Cintas

Cintas Corporation

Company type	Public
Industry	Business services, Uniform rental, Safety equipment
Founded	1929
Founder	Richard (Doc) Farmer, Amelia Farmer
Headquarters	Mason, Ohio , United States
Area served	United States, Canada
Key people	Todd Schneider (CEO), Scott Farmer (Executive Chairman)
Products	Uniforms, mats, mops, cleaning and restroom supplies, first aid and safety equipment, fire extinguisher services, safety training programs
Number of employees	44,500 (2023)
Website	www.cintas.com

Cintas Corporation () is a U.S.-based enterprise located in Mason, Ohio, offering an extensive array of business-related products and services. These include uniforms, mats, mops, cleaning and restroom supplies, first aid and safety equipment, fire extinguisher services and inspections, as well as safety training programs. The company is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker CTAS and is a constituent of the S&P 500 Index.

Recognized as a leader in its sector, Cintas employed around 44,500 individuals in 2023. In 2020, the company generated revenues totaling $7.09 billion, underscoring its substantial presence and growth within the corporate service solutions market.

Founding and early development

The origins of Cintas Corporation trace back to 1929 when Richard (Doc) Farmer and Amelia Farmer established the Acme Industrial Laundry Company. Their initial business model involved collecting used rags from industrial clients, laundering them, and reselling these materials to other businesses. During the early 1940s, leadership passed to Doc’s son Hershell, who pivoted the company’s focus toward shop towels and transitioned it into a service-oriented operation under the name Acme Wiper and Industrial Laundry.

In 1957, Hershell’s son, Richard "Dick" Farmer, joined the firm following his graduation from Miami University. At that time, the company had a workforce of only 12 employees. Dick expanded operations into uniform rental services and rebranded as Acme Uniform and Towel Supply in 1964. He partnered with textile manufacturers to create a resilient 65/35 Polycotton fabric blend. In 1968, Dick established Satellite Corporation, which merged with Acme in 1970. The combined entity was renamed Cintas in 1972 and subsequently went public in 1983.

Cintas broadened its footprint into Canada by acquiring Cadet Uniform Service Ltd in 1995. Bob Kohlhepp assumed the role of CEO in 1996 while Dick Farmer maintained his position as chairman. The company diversified into the First Aid & Safety sector in 1997. Scott Farmer, Dick’s son who had been with the company since 1981, was appointed president and COO in 1998.

Growth from 2000 onward

Throughout 2002, Cintas expanded by acquiring various businesses such as Omni Services (focused on uniform rental) along with first-aid providers Petragon, American First Aid, and Respond Industries. That same year marked the introduction of its annual America's Best Restroom® Contest.

In 2003, Cintas enhanced its fire safety product line through the acquisition of Kamp Fire Equipment. During this timeframe, the company encountered legal disputes related to labor issues and safety concerns; however, these challenges did not materially hinder its overall expansion.

Phillip Holloman took over as president and COO in 2008 while Dick Farmer stepped into the role of chairman emeritus; Bob Kohlhepp continued serving as chairman of the board. In 2015, Cintas purchased Zee Medical from McKesson for about $130 million.

Scott Farmer became chairman in 2016 and steered the organization through its largest acquisition to date—the $2.2 billion acquisition of G&K Services in 2017—substantially boosting its market position. Since 2018, Cintas has been a regular on the Fortune 500 list.

In 2021, Scott Farmer retired from his CEO duties but remained as executive chairman; Todd Schneider succeeded him as CEO. That year also saw the passing of founder Dick Farmer.

In January 2025, Cintas revealed plans to acquire rival UniFirst Corporation at $275 per share after earlier offers beginning in February 2022 had been declined; nonetheless, talks concluded in March due to unresolved disagreements regarding the terms.

Acquisition history

• Cintas Corporation
  • Unitog Company
  • Omni Services, Inc.
  • G&K Services, Inc.

Products and services

Cintas offers a range of uniforms available for both rental and direct sales, alongside restroom and chemical supply solutions. Their inventory includes mats, microfiber towels, mops, disinfectants, and hand sanitizers. Additionally, the company provides first aid kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), automated external defibrillators (AEDs), compliance and training programs, eyewash stations, and water coolers designed for commercial clients. Fire safety is also a key focus, with services covering fire extinguishers, sophisticated fire alarm systems, commercial sprinkler installations, emergency exit lighting, and fire alarm monitoring. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, Cintas broadened its range of cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers, PPE products, and related service offerings to address the heightened market needs.