Cintas Corporation history, profile and corporate video
Cintas Corporation is an American provider of specialized products and services to businesses from industries such as Food Service, Healthcare, Automotive, Gaming, Hospitality, Education, or Government. It is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.
Its products and services include uniforms, floor care, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety and compliance training.
HISTORY
The story o Cintas began in 1929 when Richard (Doc) Farmer and Amelia Farmer founded the family business Acme Industrial Laundry Company. They saw an opportunity to collect used rags that local factories had thrown away, take them home to launder them, and then sell them back to businesses around Cincinnati.
In the early 1940s, Doc’s son Hershell, took the company’s helm and replaced the old rags with shop towels, becoming a service company. By then, Acme Industrial Laundry Company had changed its name to Acme Wiper and Industrial Laundry.
After graduating from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Hershell’s son, Richard “Dick” Farmer, joined the family business in 1957. At that time, Acme had just 12 employees.
In 1959, Hershell handed the family’s business over to his son Dick, allowing him to expand into uniform rental business.
In 1964, the company changed its name to Acme Uniform and Towel Supply.
In 1968, Dick Farmer founded the Satellite Corporation. He opened the first location in Cleveland and the companies merged in 1970.
In 1972, Acme changed its name to Cintas and then went public in 1983.
In 1995, Cintas acquired Cadet Uniform Service Ltd, expanding its uniform services into Canada.
In 1996, Bob Kohlhepp became CEO and Dick Farmer became Chairman of the Board.
In 1997, the company entered into First Aid & Safety business.
In 1998, Dick’s son Scott Farmer became president and chief operating officer.
In 2002, Cintas acquired the uniform rental company Omni Services, and the first-aid companies Petragon, American First Aid, and Respond Industries.
In 2003, Cintas acquired Kamp Fire Equipment, a distributor of fire safety products and services.
In 2015, Cintas acquired Zee Medical from McKesson Corporation.
In 2017, Cintas acquired G&K Services.
With more than 40,000 employees, Cintas Corporation is considered one of the Largest Public Companies in the World, according to Forbes.
*Information from Forbes.com, Wikipedia.org, and www.cintas.com.
**Video published on YouTube by “cintas“.