WILMINGTON, Mass., May 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) today announced with great sadness the passing of Ronald D. Croatti, the company’s chairman, president, and chief executive officer (CEO), as a result of complications associated with pneumonia. UniFirst’s Board of Directors will promptly begin the process to select a new CEO and will consider the company’s interim management arrangements.

Ron Croatti joined the company in 1965 and gained valuable, first-hand experience working in virtually all areas of the company, excelling in service, sales, operations, and management, before being named a senior executive in 1986. He became the company’s chief executive officer in 1991 and chairman of the Board in 2002.

Cynthia Croatti, executive vice president, said, “The loss of my dear brother and our company leader is profound. His life was dedicated to the success of UniFirst, as well as to each and every member of our extended UniFirst family 13,000 people strong. His vision, leadership, and love for family will be missed immensely, but will live on for generations to come.”

The UniFirst Board of Directors and employee Team Partners extend their deepest sympathies to Mr. Croatti’s family during this time of mourning.

About UniFirst Corporation

Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation 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 240 service locations, 300,000 customer locations, and 13,000 employee Team Partners, the company outfits nearly 2 million workers each business day. UniFirst is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UNF and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 600 Small Cap Index. For more information, contact UniFirst at 800.455.7654 or visit www.unifirst.com.