0001564590-20-048412 | 10-K | XBRL Viewer

Common stock (in dollars per share)

$ 135,770

$ 179,134

$ 163,895

Income per share—Diluted:

$ 7.13

$ 9.33

$ 8.21

Income allocated to—Basic:

Common stock

$ 135,770

$ 179,134

$ 163,895

Income allocated to—Diluted:

Common Stock

$ 135,770

$ 179,134

$ 163,895

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—Basic:

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—Diluted:

18,919

19,082

19,811

Common stock (in dollars per share)

19,042

19,196

19,963

Common Stock

Income per share—Basic:

$ 7.46

$ 9.77

$ 8.66

Income allocated to—Basic:

Common stock

$ 114,017

$ 150,247

$ 133,802

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—Basic:

Common stock (in dollars per share)

15,276

15,385

15,454

Class B Common Stock

Income per share—Basic:

$ 5.97

$ 7.81

$ 6.91

Income allocated to—Basic:

Common stock

$ 21,753

$ 28,887

$ 30,093

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—Basic:

Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

3,643

3,697

4,357

[1]	Exclusive of depreciation on the Company’s property, plant and equipment and amortization of its intangible assets.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Aug. 31, 2019

Aug. 25, 2018

Foreign currency translation adjustments

$ 135,770

$ 179,134

$ 163,895

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

2,631

(3,524)

(5,184)

Pension benefit liabilities, net of income taxes

(787)

^[1]

(5,104)

^[1]

1,342

Change in fair value of derivatives, net of income taxes

252

247

Derivative financial instruments reclassified to earnings

(151)

(153)

(46)

Other comprehensive (loss) income

1,718

(8,529)

(3,641)

Comprehensive income

$ 137,488

$ 170,605

$ 160,254

[1]	These amounts are shown net of the effect of income taxes.

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Balance at beginning of period at Aug. 26, 2017

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$ 474,838	$ 385,341
Receivables, less reserves of $12,125 and $9,935, respectively	190,916	203,457
Inventories	106,269	100,916
Rental merchandise in service	154,278	184,318
Prepaid taxes	7,115	4,060
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35,918	35,699
Total current assets	969,334	913,791
Property, plant and equipment, net	582,470	574,509
Goodwill	424,844	401,178
Customer contracts, net	56,946	56,588
Other intangible assets, net	28,590	16,132
Deferred income taxes	522	448
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	42,710
Other assets	93,611	84,674
Total assets	2,199,027	2,047,320
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	64,035	77,918
Accrued liabilities	132,965	111,721
Accrued taxes	527	205
Operating lease liabilities, current	12,569
Total current liabilities	210,096	189,844
Accrued liabilities	132,820	117,074
Accrued and deferred income taxes	85,721	99,172
Operating lease liabilities	29,261
Total liabilities	457,898	406,090
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Capital surplus	86,645	84,946
Retained earnings	1,684,565	1,588,075
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(31,970)	(33,688)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,741,129	1,641,230
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	2,199,027	2,047,320
Common Stock
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock	1,525	1,533
Class B Common Stock
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock	$ 364	$ 364

Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Receivables, reserves	$ 12,125	$ 9,935
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common Stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	15,251,176	15,332,759
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	15,251,176	15,332,759
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	3,643,009	3,643,009
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	3,643,009	3,643,009

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($)
shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands

Total

Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment

Common Stock

Common Shares

Common Stock

Common Shares

Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment

Common Stock

Class B Common Stock

Capital Surplus

Retained Earnings

Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

$ 1,453,192

$ 1,545

$ 482

$ 86,245

$ 1,386,438

$ (21,518)

Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Aug. 26, 2017

15,453

4,815

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Pension benefit liabilities, including reclassification from AOCI for tax cuts and jobs act of 2017

163,895

^[1]

2,534

1,192

1,342

Pension benefit liabilities, net

1,342

Change in fair value of derivatives

201

Foreign currency translation

(5,184)

Dividends declared

(5,586)

Share-based compensation, net

^[2]

1,466

2,204

(738)

Share-based awards exercised, net

^[1]

461

$ 5

456

Share-based awards exercised, net (in shares)

^[1]

Repurchase of Common Stock

(146,012)

$ (7)

$ (111)

(5,932)

(139,962)

Repurchase of common stock (in shares)

(73)

(1,105)

Balance at end of period at Aug. 25, 2018

1,464,967

$ 41,368

$ 1,543

$ 371

82,973

1,405,239

$ 41,368

(25,159)

Balance at end of period (in shares) at Aug. 25, 2018

15,431

3,710

Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]

us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Pension benefit liabilities, net

179,134

^[1]

(5,104)

Change in fair value of derivatives

Foreign currency translation

(3,524)

Dividends declared

(8,243)

Shares converted

$ 7

$ (7)

Shares converted (in shares)

(67)

Share-based compensation, net

^[2]

2,997

Share-based awards exercised, net

^[1]

$ 3

Share-based awards exercised, net (in shares)

^[1]

Repurchase of Common Stock

(30,515)

$ (20)

(1,072)

(29,423)

Repurchase of common stock (in shares)

(197)

Balance at end of period at Aug. 31, 2019

1,641,230

$ 1,533

$ 364

84,946

1,588,075

(33,688)

Balance at end of period (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019

15,333

3,643

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Pension benefit liabilities, net

135,770

^[1]

(787)

Change in fair value of derivatives

(126)

Foreign currency translation

2,631

Dividends declared

(18,185)

Share-based compensation, net

^[2]

2,268

Share-based awards exercised, net

^[1]

$ 3

Share-based awards exercised, net (in shares)

^[1]

Repurchase of Common Stock

(21,745)

$ (11)

(639)

(21,095)

Repurchase of common stock (in shares)

(118)

Balance at end of period at Aug. 29, 2020

$ 1,741,129

$ 1,525

$ 364

$ 86,645

$ 1,684,565

$ (31,970)

Balance at end of period (in shares) at Aug. 29, 2020

15,251

3,643

[1]	These amounts are shown net of the effect of income taxes.
[2]	These amounts are shown net of any shares withheld by the Company to satisfy certain tax withholdings obligations in connection with the vesting of certain shares of restricted stock.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 135,770	$ 179,134	$ 163,895
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	104,697	103,333	96,662
Amortization of deferred financing costs	112	112	112
Forgiveness of a liability		(7,346)
Share-based compensation	5,999	5,761	4,638
Accretion on environmental contingencies	537	755	692
Accretion on asset retirement obligations	929	865	935
Other	2,524	(283)	(232)
Deferred income taxes	(12,152)	8,896	(7,861)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables, less reserves	14,589	(3,189)	(12,420)
Inventories	(5,066)	(10,736)	(11,051)
Rental merchandise in service	32,262	(10,324)	(21,572)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets	840	(8,011)	(5,643)
Accounts payable	(10,702)	3,365	4,573
Accrued liabilities	19,866	(1,027)	12,233
Prepaid and accrued income taxes	(3,521)	20,837	5,112
Net cash provided by operating activities	286,684	282,142	230,073
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(41,221)	(4,919)	(42,665)
Capital expenditures, including capitalization of software costs	(116,717)	(119,815)	(112,747)
Proceeds from sale of assets	322	405	1,777
Other			(263)
Net cash used in investing activities	(157,616)	(124,329)	(153,898)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards	73	51	461
Taxes withheld and paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(3,731)	(2,767)	(3,180)
Repurchase of Common Stock	(21,745)	(30,515)	(146,011)
Payment of cash dividends	(15,700)	(8,260)	(4,218)
Net cash used in financing activities	(41,103)	(41,491)	(152,948)
Effect of exchange rate changes	1,532	(1,493)	(2,467)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	89,497	114,829	(79,240)
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at beginning of period	385,341	270,512	349,752
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at end of period	474,838	385,341	270,512
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Capital expenditures in accounts payable	6,637	9,928	15,050
Interest paid	637	750	538
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 58,402	$ 28,354	$ 28,355

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business Description

UniFirst Corporation (the “Company”) is one of the largest providers of workplace uniforms and protective clothing in the United States. The Company designs, manufactures, personalizes, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a wide range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, aprons and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. The Company also rents and sells industrial wiping products, floor mats, facility service products and other non-garment items, and provides restroom and cleaning supplies and first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies as well as provide certain safety training, to a variety of manufacturers, retailers and service companies.

The Company serves businesses of all sizes in numerous industry categories. Typical customers include automobile service centers and dealers, delivery services, food and general merchandise retailers, food processors and service operations, light manufacturers, maintenance facilities, restaurants, service companies, soft and durable goods wholesalers, transportation companies, healthcare providers, and others who require employee clothing for image, identification, protection or utility purposes. The Company also provides its customers with restroom and cleaning supplies, including air fresheners, paper products, gloves, masks, hand soaps and sanitizers.

At certain specialized facilities, the Company decontaminates and cleans work clothes and other items that may have been exposed to radioactive materials and services special cleanroom protective wear. Typical customers for these specialized services include government agencies, research and development laboratories, high technology companies and utility providers operating nuclear reactors.

As discussed and described in Note 15, “Segment Reporting”, to these Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has five reporting segments: U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing (“MFG”), Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning (“Specialty Garments”), First Aid and Corporate. The operations of the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment are referred to by the Company as its “industrial laundry operations” and the locations related to this reporting segment are referred to as “industrial laundries”. The Company refers to its U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate segments combined as its “Core Laundry Operations”.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a significant impact on the Company’s business. However, efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 intensified during the second half of the Company’s fiscal 2020. Most states and municipalities within the U.S. enacted temporary closures of businesses, issued quarantine orders and took other restrictive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the U.S., the Company’s business has been designated an essential business, which allows the Company to continue to serve customers that remain open. In these consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, the Company has assessed the current impact of COVID-19 on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, as well as our estimates and accounting policies. The Company has made additional disclosures of these assessments, as necessary. Given the unprecedented nature of this situation, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the full extent of the impact COVID-19 will have on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows in the foreseeable future. The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the Company is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, and such impacts could exist for an extended period of time, even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. There have been no material changes in the accounting policies followed by the Company during the current fiscal year other than the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements as discussed in greater detail in the Recent Accounting Pronouncements sub-section of this Note.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company utilizes key estimates in preparing the financial statements including casualty and environmental estimates, recoverability of goodwill, intangibles, income taxes and long-lived assets. These estimates are based on historical information, current trends, and information available from other sources. The Company’s results are affected by economic, political, legislative, regulatory and legal actions. Economic conditions, such as recessionary trends, inflation, interest and monetary exchange rates, government fiscal policies, government policies surrounding the containment of COVID-19 and changes in the prices of raw materials, can have a significant effect on operations. These factors and other events could cause actual results to differ from management's estimates.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in August. For financial reporting purposes, fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 (“fiscal 2019”) consisted of 53 weeks, and fiscal years ended August 29, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”) and August 25, 2018 (“fiscal 2018”) both consisted of 52 weeks.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments include cash in banks, money market securities, and bank short-term investments having original maturities of twelve months or less. As of August 29, 2020, the Company had no short-term investments. As of August 31, 2019, short-term investments consist of certificates of deposits totaling $4.9 million having original maturities of six and twelve months.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable represents amounts due from customers and is presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company utilizes its judgment and estimates are used in determining the collectability of accounts receivable and evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company considers specific accounts receivable and historical bad debt experience, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and the age of outstanding balances as part of its evaluation. When an account is considered uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts. In response to the economic disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on our customer base, the Company performed an additional evaluation of amounts due from customers in fiscal 2020 that were deemed to be higher collection risk. This evaluation resulted in an allowance for doubtful accounts in excess of historical rates. The judgment applied to increase the allowance for doubtful accounts beyond our historical policy was deemed to be reasonable and supportable based on the data available as of the consolidated balance sheet date.

Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments, which may expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk, include cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, receivables, accounts payable and foreign exchange forward contracts. Each of these financial instruments is recorded at cost, which approximates its fair value given the short maturity of each financial instrument.

Revenue Recognition

Approximately 89.9% of the Company’s revenues are derived from fees for route servicing of Core Laundry Operations, Specialty Garments and First Aid services performed by the Company’s employees at the customer’s location of business. Revenues from the Company’s route servicing customer contracts represent a single-performance obligation. The Company

recognizes these revenues over time as services are performed based on the nature of services provided and contractual rates (input method). Certain of the Company’s customer contracts, primarily within the Company’s Core Laundry Operations, include pricing terms and conditions that include components of variable consideration. The variable consideration is typically in the form of consideration due to a customer based on performance metrics specified within the contract. Specifically, some contracts contain discounts or rebates that the customer can earn through the achievement of specified volume levels. Each component of variable consideration is earned based on the Company’s actual performance during the measurement period specified within the contract. To determine the transaction price, the Company estimates the variable consideration using the most likely amount method, based on the specific contract provisions and known performance results during the relevant measurement period. When determining if variable consideration should be constrained, the Company considers whether factors outside its control could result in a significant reversal of revenue. In making these assessments, the Company considers the likelihood and magnitude of a potential reversal. The Company’s performance period generally corresponds with the monthly invoice period. No significant constraints on the Company’s revenue recognition were applied during fiscal 2020. The Company reassesses these estimates during each reporting period. The Company maintains a liability for these discounts and rebates within accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Variable consideration also includes consideration paid to a customer at the beginning of a contract. The Company capitalizes this consideration and amortizes it over the life of the contract as a reduction to revenue in accordance with the accounting guidance for revenue recognition. These assets are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018 disaggregated by service type:

	Years ended
	August 29, 2020					August 31, 2019					August 25, 2018
(In thousands, except percentages)	Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues
Core Laundry Operations	$	1,601,485		88.8	%	$	1,616,205		89.3	%	$	1,523,648		89.8	%
Specialty Garments		133,185		7.4	%		132,767		7.3	%		118,477		7.0	%
First Aid		69,489		3.9	%		60,404		3.4	%		54,364		3.2	%
Total Revenues	$	1,804,159		100.0	%	$	1,809,376		100.0	%	$	1,696,489		100.0	%

During fiscal 2020, the percentage of revenues recognized over time as the services are performed was 94.7% of Core Laundry Operations revenues and 79.2% of Specialty Garments revenues. During fiscal 2020, 5.3% of Core Laundry Operations revenues, 20.8% of Specialty Garments revenues and 100% of First Aid revenues were recognized at a point in time, which generally occurs when the goods are transferred to the customer.

Costs to Obtain a Contract

The Company defers commission expenses paid to its employee-partners when the commissions are deemed to be incremental for obtaining the route servicing customer contract. The deferred commissions are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. The Company reviews the deferred commission balances for impairment on an ongoing basis. Deferred commissions are classified as current or noncurrent based on the timing of when the Company expects to recognize the expense. The current portion is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and the non-current portion is included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of August 29, 2020, the current and non-current assets related to deferred commissions totaled $13.3 million and $55.6 million, respectively. As of August 31, 2019, the current and non-current assets related to deferred commissions totaled $12.4 million and $50.3 million, respectively. During fiscal 2020 and 2019, we recorded $13.7 million and $11.8 million, respectively, of amortization expense related to deferred commissions. This amortization expense is classified in selling and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of income.

Inventories and Rental Merchandise in Service

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, net of any reserve for excess and obsolete inventory. Work-in-process and finished goods inventories consist of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the likelihood that new goods on hand can be sold to customers or used in rental operations. Historical inventory usage and current revenue trends are considered in estimating both excess and obsolete inventories. If actual product demand and market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. The Company uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method to value its inventories.

The components of inventory as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Raw materials	$	20,266	$	23,000
Work in process		2,730		2,864
Finished goods		83,273		75,052
Total inventory	$	106,269	$	100,916

Rental merchandise in service is amortized, primarily on a straight-line basis, over the estimated service lives of the merchandise, which range from six to thirty-six months. The amortization expense is included in the cost of revenues on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. In establishing estimated lives for merchandise in service, management considers historical experience and the intended use of the merchandise. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of operating profit for any period if management makes significant changes to these estimates.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized.

The components of property, plant and equipment as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Land, buildings and leasehold equipment	$	558,277	$	527,419
Machinery and equipment		585,211		565,319
Motor vehicles		278,098		253,841
		1,421,586		1,346,579
Less: accumulated depreciation		839,116		772,070
Total property, plant and equipment	$	582,470	$	574,509

The Company provides for depreciation on the straight-line method based on the date the asset is placed in service using the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings (in years)		30 — 40
Building components (in years)		10 — 20
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Machinery and equipment (in years)		3 — 10
Motor vehicles (in years)		3 — 5

Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate an asset may be impaired. There were no material impairments of long-lived assets in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company does not amortize goodwill. Instead, the Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis. Management completed its annual goodwill impairment test on the last day of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year prior to fiscal 2020. In fiscal 2020, the Company changed its annual goodwill impairment test date to the first day of the fourth quarter to better align with its internal business processes. In addition, U.S. GAAP requires that companies test goodwill if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit to which goodwill is assigned below its carrying amount.

Despite the significant excess fair value identified in the Company’s fiscal 2019 impairment assessment, the Company determined that its reduced cash flow projections and the significant decline in its market capitalization as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that an impairment loss may have been incurred as of the last day of the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Therefore, the Company qualitatively assessed whether it was more likely than not that the goodwill in each of its

reporting units was impaired as of the last day of the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company reviewed its previous forecasts and assumptions based on its current projections, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including: (1) forecasted revenues, expenses and cash flows, including the duration and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business (2) current discount rates, (3) the reduction in the Company’s market capitalization, (4) observable market transactions, (5) changes to the regulatory environment and (6) the nature and amount of government support that will be provided.

Based on the Company’s interim impairment assessment as of the last day of the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company determined that its goodwill was not impaired. The Company also concluded that its goodwill was not impaired on the first day of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, its new annual impairment test date. However, the Company is unable to predict how long these conditions will persist, what additional measures may be introduced by governments or private parties or what effect any such additional measures may have on its business. The majority of the Company’s goodwill resides within the US Core Laundry Operations reporting unit, for which there continues to exist significant excess fair value over book value.

The Company cannot predict future economic conditions and their impact on the Company or the future net realizable value of the Company’s stock. A decline in the Company’s market capitalization and/or deterioration in general economic conditions could negatively and materially impact the Company’s assumptions and assessment of the fair value of the Company’s business. If general economic conditions or the Company’s financial performance deteriorate, the Company may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge in the future which could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which are based on management’s estimates of the period that the assets will generate economic benefits. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There were no impairments of goodwill or indicators of impairment for definite-lived intangible assets in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.

As of August 29, 2020, definite-lived intangible assets have a weighted average useful life of approximately 12.1 years. Customer contracts have a weighted average useful life of approximately 13.7 years and other intangible assets, net, which consist of primarily, restrictive covenants, software and trademarks, have a weighted average useful life of approximately 8.8 years.

Environmental and Other Contingencies

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of its business operations, including environmental matters, personal injury, customer contract matters and employment claims. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. The Company regularly consults with attorneys and outside consultants in its consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances before recording a contingent liability. The Company records accruals for environmental and other contingencies based on enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, the Company’s estimates of costs, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments, and the input of outside consultants and attorneys.

The estimated liability for environmental contingencies has been discounted as of August 29, 2020 using risk-free interest rates ranging from 0.7% to 1.5% over periods ranging from ten to thirty years. The estimated current costs, net of legal settlements with insurance carriers, have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management’s estimates of costs, risk-free interest rates, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments, the input of the Company’s attorneys and outside consultants or other factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities. Refer to Note 11, “Commitments and Contingencies”, of these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion and analysis.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Under U.S. GAAP, asset retirement obligations generally apply to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset.

The Company has recognized as a liability the present value of the estimated future costs to decommission its nuclear laundry facilities. The Company depreciates, on a straight-line basis, the amount added to property, plant and equipment and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the various remaining lives which range from approximately one to twenty-five years.

The estimated liability has been based on historical experience in decommissioning nuclear laundry facilities, estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, external vendor estimates as to the cost to decommission these assets in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The estimated current costs have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year. The liability has been discounted using credit-adjusted risk-free rates that range from approximately 7.0% to 7.5%. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in the Company’s estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, estimated dates of decommissioning, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory guidance on the decommissioning of such facilities, or other changes in estimates. Changes due to revised estimates will be recognized by adjusting the carrying amount of the liability and the related long-lived asset if the assets are still in service, or charged to expense in the period if the assets are no longer in service.

Insurance

The Company is self-insured for certain obligations related to health, workers’ compensation, vehicles and general liability programs. The Company also purchases stop-loss insurance policies for health, workers’ compensation, vehicles and general liability programs to protect itself from catastrophic losses. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the potential value associated with reported claims and for events that have occurred, but have not been reported. The Company’s estimates consider historical claims experience and other factors. In certain cases where partial insurance coverage exists, the Company estimates the portion of the liability that will be covered by existing insurance policies to arrive at its net expected liability. Receivables for insurance recoveries are recorded as assets, on an undiscounted basis. The Company’s liabilities are based on estimates, and, while the Company believes that its accruals are adequate, the ultimate liability may be significantly different from the amounts recorded. Changes in claims experience, the Company’s ability to settle claims or other estimates and judgments used by management could have a material impact on the amount and timing of expense for any period.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and other Pension Plans

Pension expense is recognized on an accrual basis over employees’ estimated service periods. Pension expense is generally independent of funding decisions or requirements.

The Company (1) recognizes in its statement of financial position the over-funded or under-funded status of its defined benefit postretirement plans measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation, (2) recognizes as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost, (3) measures defined benefit plan assets and defined benefit plan obligations as of the date of its statement of financial position, and (4) discloses additional information in the notes to financial statements about certain effects on net periodic benefit cost in the upcoming fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits. Refer to Note 7, “Employee Benefit Plans”, of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company’s pension plans.

The calculation of pension expense and the corresponding liability requires the use of a number of critical assumptions, including the expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, the assumed discount rates, assumed rate of compensation increases and life expectancy of participants. Changes in these assumptions can result in different expense and liability amounts, and future actual experience can differ from these assumptions. Pension expense increases as the expected rate of return on pension plan assets decreases. Future changes in plan asset returns, assumed discount rates and various other factors related to the participants in the Company’s pension plans will impact the Company’s future pension expense and liabilities. The Company cannot predict with certainty what these factors will be in the future.

Income Taxes

The Company computes income tax expense by jurisdiction based on its operations in each jurisdiction. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the amounts recognized for income tax and financial reporting purposes at currently enacted tax rates. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”) included a mandatory one-time transition tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and, as a result, previously unremitted earnings for which no U.S. deferred tax liability had been accrued have now been subject to U.S. tax. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined by the differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. See Note 4, “Income Taxes” in these Consolidated Financial Statements for the types of items that give rise to significant deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are classified as assets or liabilities based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting purposes. The Company regularly reviews deferred tax assets for recoverability based upon projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the recorded deferred tax assets will be realized.

The Company is periodically reviewed by U.S. domestic and foreign tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due. These reviews typically include inquiries regarding the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the exposure associated with various filing positions, the Company records estimated reserves. Refer to Note 4, “Income Taxes”, of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company’s accounting for income taxes and its uncertain tax positions for financial accounting purposes.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are classified as selling and administrative expenses. The Company incurred advertising costs of $3.8 million, $3.6 million and $2.8 million, for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

Compensation expense for all stock options, stock appreciation rights, unrestricted stock and restricted stock units (collectively, “Share-Based Awards”) is recognized ratably over the related vesting period, net of actual forfeitures. Certain Share-Based Awards in the form of stock appreciation rights and shares of unrestricted stock were granted during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 to non-employee Directors of the Company, which were fully vested upon grant and, with respect to stock appreciation rights, expire eight years after the grant date. Accordingly, compensation expense related to these Share-Based Awards in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 was recognized on the date of grant.

For performance-based restricted stock unit awards with revenue and adjusted operating margin targets, we evaluate the probability of meeting the performance criteria at each balance sheet date and if probable, related compensation cost is amortized over the performance period on a straight-line basis because such awards vest only at the end of the measurement period. Changes to the probability assessment and the estimate of shares expected to vest will result in adjustments to the related share-based compensation expense that will be recorded in the period of the change. If the performance targets are not achieved, no compensation cost is recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed.

U.S. GAAP requires that share-based compensation cost be measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and be recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Determining the fair value of Share-Based Awards in the form of stock appreciation rights at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating expected dividends and share price volatility. The fair value of each Share-Based Award in the form of stock appreciation rights is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Company recognizes compensation expense for restricted stock and restricted stock unit grants over the related vesting period. The fair value for each restricted stock, unrestricted stock and restricted stock unit grant is determined by using the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant. Refer to Note 12, “Share-Based Compensation”, of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company’s share-based compensation plans.

Income Per Share

The Company calculates income per share by allocating income to its unvested participating securities as part of its income per share calculations.

The Class B Common Stock may be converted at any time on a one-for-one basis into Common Stock at the option of the holder of the Class B Common Stock. Diluted income per share for the Company’s Common Stock assumes the conversion of all of the Company’s Class B Common Stock into Common Stock, full vesting of outstanding restricted stock, and the exercise of Share-Based Awards under the Company’s stock incentive plans.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic income per share using the two-class method for amounts attributable to the Company’s shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (in thousands, except per share data):

Year ended	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019		August 25, 2018
Net income available to shareholders	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common Stock	$	114,017	$	150,247	$	133,802
Class B Common Stock		21,753		28,887		30,093
	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common Stock		15,276		15,385		15,454
Class B Common Stock		3,643		3,697		4,357
		18,919		19,082		19,811
Income per share for Basic:
Common Stock	$	7.46	$	9.77	$	8.66
Class B Common Stock	$	5.97	$	7.81	$	6.91

The Company is required to calculate the diluted income per share for Common Stock using the more dilutive of the following two methods:

•	The treasury stock method; or

•	The two-class method assuming a participating security is not exercised or converted.

For fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s diluted income per share assumes the conversion of all Class B Common Stock into Common Stock and uses the two-class method for its unvested participating shares. The following table sets forth the computation of diluted income per share of Common Stock for the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018 (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended August 29, 2020						Year Ended August 31, 2019						Year Ended August 25, 2018
	Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share
As reported—Basic	$	114,017		15,276	$	7.46	$	150,247		15,385	$	9.77	$	133,802		15,454	$	8.66
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards		—		123				—		114				—		152
Class B Common Stock		21,753		3,643				28,887		3,697				30,093		4,357
Diluted Income Per Share— Common Stock	$	135,770		19,042	$	7.13	$	179,134		19,196	$	9.33	$	163,895		19,963	$	8.21

Share-Based Awards that would result in the issuance of 8,094, 8,325 and 4,972 shares, respectively, of Common Stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 because they were anti-dilutive.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our foreign operations is the local country’s currency. Transaction gains and losses, including gains and losses on our intercompany transactions, are included in other (income) expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Assets and liabilities of operations outside the United States are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each month of the fiscal year. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued updated guidance which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). The new guidance requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The Company adopted this standard on September 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective adoption method. The standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition and the Company has elected certain of these practical expedients upon adoption of this standard. Specifically, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the standard, which allows a lessee to carry forward its population of existing leases, the classification of each lease, as well as the treatment of initial direct lease costs as of the period of adoption. The Company also elected the practical expedient related to lease and non-lease components, as an accounting policy election which allows a lessee to not separate non-lease from lease components and instead account for consideration paid in a contract as a single lease component. In addition, the Company elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases with a term of 12 months or less, which means it will not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities for these leases. The adoption of this standard resulted in the Company recognizing right-of-use assets, net of $48.7 million and corresponding lease liabilities of $46.2 million and reductions of prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated statement of income or consolidated statement of cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance that introduces a new forward-looking approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments including trade receivables. The estimate of expected credit losses will require entities to incorporate historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This guidance also expands the disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand the entity’s assumptions, models and methods for estimating expected credit losses. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and any interim periods within those annual periods, that begin after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. Accordingly, the guidance will be effective for the Company on August 30, 2020. The Company expects that adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued updated guidance to modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods, and any interim periods within those annual periods, ending after December 15, 2020 and will be required to be applied on a retrospective basis with early adoption permitted. Accordingly, the standard will be effective for the Company on August 29, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance that addresses customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract and also adds certain disclosure requirements related to implementation costs incurred for internal-use software and cloud computing arrangements. This guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and any interim periods within those annual periods, that begin after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this update can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Accordingly, the guidance will be effective for the Company on August 30, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued updated guidance to simplify accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and improving the consistent application of and simplifying U.S. GAAP in other areas of this topic. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and any interim periods within those annual periods, that begin after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. Accordingly, the guidance will be effective for the Company on August 29, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisitions

2. Acquisitions

During fiscal 2020, the Company completed eight business acquisitions with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $41.3 million. The allocations of the purchase prices with respect to certain assets acquired during fiscal 2020 are complete. The results of operations of these acquisitions have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial results since their respective acquisition dates. These acquisitions were not significant in relation to the Company’s consolidated financial results and, therefore, pro forma financial information has not been presented.

Aggregate information relating to the acquisition of businesses which were accounted for as purchases is as follows (in thousands, except number of businesses acquired):

Year ended	August 29, 2020			August 31, 2019		August 25, 2018
Number of businesses acquired	$	8		$	6	$	9
Tangible assets acquired		6,370			322		7,743
Goodwill		23,544			3,929		21,459
Customer contracts		12,697			1,344		11,751
Other intangible assets		594			118		900
Liabilities assumed		(1,872	)		—		(95	)
Acquisition of businesses	$	41,333		$	5,713	$	41,758

Tangible assets acquired primarily relate to accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and property, plant and equipment. Liabilities assumed primarily relate to leases, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

The amount assigned to intangible assets acquired was based on their respective fair values determined as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the tangible and intangible assets was recorded as goodwill. In fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the goodwill was primarily allocated to the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning segment and is deductible for tax purposes.

In September 2019, the Company completed an acquisition for approximately $38.8 million. The all-cash transaction was structured as an asset acquisition, with the Company acquiring substantially all of the acquired company’s industrial laundry, industrial uniform rental and industrial direct sales assets.

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

3. Fair Value Measurements

U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value and establishes disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. We considered non-performance risk when determining fair value of our derivative financial instruments.

The fair value hierarchy prescribed under U.S. GAAP contains three levels as follows:

Level 1

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2

Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

All financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) have been segregated into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the tables below (in thousands):

	As of August 29, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	196,478	$	—	$	—	$	196,478
Pension plan assets		—		4,146		—		4,146
Foreign currency forward contracts		—		87		—		87
Total assets at fair value	$	196,478	$	4,233	$	—	$	200,711

	As of August 31, 2019
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	214,038	$	—	$	—	$	214,038
Pension plan assets		—		4,603		—		4,603
Foreign currency forward contracts		—		254		—		254
Total assets at fair value	$	214,038	$	4,857	$	—	$	218,895

The Company’s cash equivalents listed above represent money market securities and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The Company does not adjust the quoted market price for such financial instruments.

The Company’s pension plan assets listed above represent guaranteed deposit accounts that are maintained and operated by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“PRIAC”). All assets are merged with the general assets of PRIAC and are invested predominantly in privately placed securities and mortgages. At the beginning of each calendar year, PRIAC notifies the Company of the annual rates of interest which will be applied to the amounts held in the guaranteed deposit account during the next calendar year. In determining the interest rate to be applied, PRIAC considers the investment performance of the underlying assets of the prior year; however, regardless of the investment performance the Company is contractually guaranteed a minimum rate of return. As such, the Company’s pension plan assets are included within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts represent contracts the Company has entered into to exchange Canadian dollars for U.S. dollars at fixed exchange rates in order to manage its exposure related to certain forecasted Canadian dollar denominated sales of one of its subsidiaries. These contracts are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other long-term assets as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019. The fair value of the forward contracts is based on similar exchange traded derivatives and are, therefore, included within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

4. Income Taxes

The provision / (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

Fiscal year	2020			2019			2018
Current:
Federal	$	40,084		$	38,545		$	23,815
Foreign		1,589			(200	)		527
State		12,865			11,733			8,012
Total current	$	54,538		$	50,078		$	32,354
Deferred:
Federal	$	(8,522	)	$	7,289		$	(11,517	)
Foreign		(599	)		645			363
State		(3,299	)		778			2,151
Total deferred	$	(12,420	)	$	8,712		$	(9,003	)
Total	$	42,118		$	58,790		$	23,351

The following table reconciles the provision for income taxes using the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual provision for income taxes:

Fiscal year	2020			2019			2018
Income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate		21.0	%		21.0	%		25.9	%
State income taxes		4.4			4.3			4.1
Other		(1.7	)		(0.6	)		(2.8	)
Deemed Repatriation of Non—U.S. Earnings, net foreign tax credits and other (collectively, Transition Tax)		—			—			1.4
Impact of U.S. tax reform federal tax rate reduction		—			—			(16.1	)
Total		23.7	%		24.7	%		12.5	%

The components of deferred income taxes included on the consolidated balance sheets are as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Deferred Tax Assets
Payroll and benefit related	$	17,451	$	15,929
Insurance related		13,790		11,948
Environmental		7,856		7,093
Accrued expenses		6,270		2,164
Operating lease liabilities		8,720		—
Other		7,536		7,301
Total deferred tax assets	$	61,623	$	44,435
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Payroll and benefit related	$	17,722	$	16,056
Tax in excess of book depreciation		41,713		42,691
Purchased intangible assets		32,892		29,633
Rental merchandise in service		38,846		46,649
Operating lease right-of-use assets		8,952		—
Other		191		290
Total deferred tax liabilities		140,316		135,319
Net deferred tax liability	$	78,693	$	90,884

The Company regularly reviews deferred tax assets for recoverability based upon projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the recorded deferred tax assets will be realized.

U.S. Tax Reform

The TCJA enacted on December 22, 2017, among other matters, reduced the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, required companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred, and created new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings.

On December 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”) directing SEC registrants to consider the impact of the U.S. legislation as “provisional” when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in tax law. In accordance with SAB 118, during fiscal 2018 the Company recorded its best estimates based on its interpretation of the U.S. legislation while it continued to accumulate data to finalize the underlying calculations. This resulted in the Company recording a provisional net income tax benefit of $20.1 million for the fiscal year ended August 25, 2018 related to remeasuring its U.S. net deferred tax liabilities at the lower tax rate and the one-time transition tax.

As a result of the TCJA, U.S. corporations are subject to lower income tax rates. For fiscal 2020 and 2019, the statutory tax rate was 21.0% compared to the applicable blended statutory tax rate of 25.9% for fiscal 2018.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company completed its accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the TCJA as required by SAB 118. There were no changes from the provisional calculation as recorded through August 25, 2018 to the final calculation.

Effective tax rate

The Company’s effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended August 29, 2020 was 23.7% as compared to 24.7% for the corresponding period in the prior year. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to higher benefits of $2.1 million resulting from the release of certain tax reserves and the tax benefit related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights in fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019.

Foreign tax effect

As of August 29, 2020, unremitted foreign earnings, have been retained by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for indefinite reinvestment. Upon repatriation of those earnings, in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company could be subject to immaterial withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries.

Uncertain tax positions

As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, there was $6.3 million and $7.7 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $5.6 million and $7.0 million, respectively, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized. The Company recognized interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense which is consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods. As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the Company had accrued a total of $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in interest and penalties, in its long-term accrued liabilities. For the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018 the Company recognized a nominal expense in its Consolidated Statement of Income related to interest and penalties.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at August 25, 2018	$	2,198
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		329
Additions for tax positions of prior years		5,535
Statute expirations		(394	)
Balance at August 31, 2019		7,668
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		475
Reduction for tax positions of prior years		(1,389	)
Statute expirations		(424	)
Balance at August 29, 2020	$	6,330

The Company has a significant portion of its operations in the United States and Canada. It is required to file federal income tax returns as well as state income tax returns in a majority of the U.S. states and also in a number of Canadian provinces. At times, the Company is subject to audits in these jurisdictions, which typically are complex and can require several years to resolve. The final resolution of any such tax audits could result in either a reduction in the Company’s accruals or an increase in its income tax provision, both of which could have a material impact on the consolidated results of operations in any given period.

All U.S. and Canadian federal income tax statutes have lapsed for filings up to and including fiscal years 2015 and 2012, respectively. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for periods prior to fiscal 2016. The Company is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly in the next 12 months.

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

Loans Payable and Long-term Debt

Loans Payable and Long-term Debt

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

5. Loans Payable and Long-term Debt

As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the Company had no outstanding loans payable.

The Company has a $250.0 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, which matures on April 11, 2021. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is able to borrow funds at variable interest rates based on, at its election, the Eurodollar rate or a base rate, plus in each case a spread based on the Company’s consolidated funded debt ratio. Availability of credit requires compliance with certain financial and other covenants, including a maximum consolidated funded debt ratio and minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company tests its compliance with these financial covenants on a fiscal quarterly basis. As of August 29, 2020, the interest rates applicable to the Company’s borrowings under the Credit Agreement would be calculated as LIBOR plus 75 basis points at the time of the respective borrowing. As of August 29, 2020, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and had outstanding letters of credit amounting to $70.8 million, leaving $179.2 million available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement.

As of August 29, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

6. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currencies on certain forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies. U.S. GAAP requires that all of the Company’s derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. All subsequent changes in a derivative’s fair value are recognized in income, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.

Derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are classified as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset, liability or forecasted transaction. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and designated as a cash flow hedge are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income until the hedged item or forecasted transaction is recognized in earnings. The Company performs an assessment at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis thereafter, to determine whether its derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in the value of the hedged items. Any changes in the fair value resulting from hedge ineffectiveness are immediately recognized as income or expense.

In June 2018, the Company entered into twelve forward contracts to exchange CAD for U.S. dollars at fixed exchange rates in order to manage its exposure related to certain forecasted CAD denominated sales of one of its subsidiaries. The hedged transactions are specified as the first amount of CAD denominated revenues invoiced by one of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries each fiscal quarter, beginning in the third fiscal quarter of 2019 and continuing through the second fiscal quarter of 2022. In total, the Company will sell approximately 12.1 million CAD at an average Canadian-dollar exchange rate of 0.7814 over these quarterly periods. The Company concluded that the forward contracts met the criteria to qualify as a cash flow hedge under U.S. GAAP.

As of August 29, 2020, the Company had forward contracts with a notional value of approximately 5.0 million CAD outstanding and recorded the fair value of the contracts of $0.1 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets with a corresponding $0.1 million gain in accumulated other comprehensive loss, which was recorded net of tax. For the fiscal year ended August 29, 2020, the Company reclassified $0.2 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to revenue, related to the derivative financial instruments. The gain on these forward contracts that results in a decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss as of August 29, 2020 is expected to be reclassified to revenues prior to its maturity on February 25, 2022.

Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

7. Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan

The Company has a defined contribution retirement savings plan with a 401(k) feature for all eligible U.S. and Canadian employees not under collective bargaining agreements. The Company matches a portion of the employee’s contribution and may make an additional contribution at its discretion. Contributions charged to expense under the plan for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $16.6 million, $19.7 million and $18.1 million, respectively.

Pension Plans and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans

The Company accounts for its pension plans and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on an accrual basis over employees’ estimated service periods.

The Company maintains an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for certain eligible employees of the Company. The benefits are based on the employee’s compensation upon retirement. The amount charged to expense related to this plan amounted to approximately $2.6 million, $2.1 million and $2.1 million for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“UniFirst Plan”) covering employees at one of its locations. The benefits are based on years of service. The UniFirst Plan assets are invested in a Guaranteed Deposit Account (“GDA”) that is maintained and operated by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“PRIAC”). All assets are merged with the general assets of PRIAC and are invested predominantly in privately placed securities and mortgages. At the beginning of each calendar year, PRIAC notifies the Company of the annual rates of interest which will be applied to the amounts held in the GDA during the next calendar year. In determining the interest rate to be applied, PRIAC considers the investment performance of the underlying assets of the prior year; however, regardless of the investment performance the annual interest rate applied per the contract must be a minimum of 3.25%. The amount charged to expense related to this plan amounted to approximately $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.

In connection with one of the Company’s acquisitions, the Company assumed liabilities related to a frozen pension plan covering many of the acquired Company’s former employees (“Textilease Plan”). The pension benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation. The Textilease Plan assets are held in a separate GDA with PRIAC; however the minimum interest rate per the Textilease Plan contract is 1.5%. The amount charged to expense related to this plan amounted to approximately $0, $0.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.

The Company refers to its UniFirst Plan and Textilease Plan collectively as its “Pension Plans”.

The components of net periodic benefit cost related to the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans									SERP
	2020			2019			2018			2020		2019		2018
Service cost	$	113		$	114		$	115		$	918	$	725	$	694
Interest cost		131			260			257			1,027		1,148		1,027
Expected return on assets		(138	)		(199	)		(174	)		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service cost		66			66			66			—		—		—
Amortization of unrecognized loss		—			51			102			703		247		362
Other events		12			503			96			—		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	184		$	795		$	462		$	2,648	$	2,120	$	2,083

The Company’s obligations and funded status related to its Pension Plans and SERP as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	5,566		$	7,449		$	35,967		$	27,547
Service cost		113			114			918			725
Interest cost		131			260			1,027			1,148
Actuarial loss		169			163			1,658			7,456
Benefits paid		(224	)		(50	)		(954	)		(909	)
Settlements		(287	)		(2,370	)		—			—
Projected benefit obligation, end of year	$	5,468		$	5,566		$	38,616		$	35,967

Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	$	4,603		$	6,325		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		54			170			—			—
Employer contributions		—			528			—			—
Benefits paid		(224	)		(50	)		—			—
Settlements		(287	)		(2,370	)		—			—
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	$	4,146		$	4,603		$	—		$	—
Funded status (net amount recognized):	$	(1,322	)	$	(963	)	$	(38,616	)	$	(35,967	)

As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the accumulated benefit obligations for the Company’s Pension Plans were $5.5 million and $5.6 million, respectively. As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the accumulated benefit obligations for the Company’s SERP were $30.7 million and $27.4 million, respectively.

The amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP as of August 29, 2020 and August 19, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Deferred tax assets	$	279		$	254		$	3,144		$	2,912
Accrued liabilities	$	1,322		$	963		$	38,616		$	35,967
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(819	)	$	(741	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)

As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Net actuarial gain (loss)	$	(1,011	)	$	(549	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)
Unrecognized prior service cost		192			(192	)		—			—
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(819	)	$	(741	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)

The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s projected benefit obligation as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, were as follows:

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Discount rate		2.0	%		2.7	%		2.5	%		2.9	%
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A				5.0	%		5.0	%

The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s net periodic service cost for the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018, were as follows:

	Pension Plans									SERP
	2020			2019			2018			2020			2019			2018
Discount rate		2.7	%		3.8	%		3.2	%		2.9	%		4.0	%		3.6	%
Expected return on plan assets		3.5	%		3.5	%		3.5	%	N/A			N/A			N/A
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A			N/A				5.0	%		5.0	%		5.0	%

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, that are expected to be paid for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 29, 2020 and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans		SERP
2021	$	723	$	1,194
2022		214		1,363
2023		313		1,364
2024		307		1,560
2025		379		1,625
Thereafter		3,532		31,510
Total benefit payments	$	5,468	$	38,616

The entire disclosure for retirement benefits.

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Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

As discussed in Note 2, “Acquisitions”, when the Company acquires a business the amount assigned to the tangible assets and liabilities and intangible assets acquired is based on their respective fair values determined as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the tangible assets and liabilities and intangible assets is recorded as goodwill. The following details the changes in the Company’s intangible assets and goodwill related to the Company’s acquisitions for the years ended August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 as well as the respective periods over which the assets will be amortized (in thousands, except weighted average life in years). These amounts include additional payments associated with prior year acquisitions:

Year ended	August 29, 2020		Weighted Average Life in Years		August 31, 2019		Weighted Average Life in Years
Goodwill	$	23,544	N/A		$	3,885	N/A
Customer contracts		12,697		14.1		1,070		10.0
Other intangible assets		594		5.3		118		3.0
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	$	36,835			$	5,073

The Company does not amortize goodwill, but it is reviewed annually or more frequently if certain indicators arise, for impairment. There were no impairment losses related to goodwill or intangible assets during the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of August 25, 2018	$	397,422
Goodwill recorded during the period		3,885
Other		(129	)
Balance as of August 31, 2019	$	401,178
Goodwill recorded during the period		23,544
Other		122
Balance as of August 29, 2020	$	424,844

As of August 29, 2020, the Company has allocated $413.2 million, $11.0 million and $0.6 million of goodwill to its U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Specialty Garments and First Aid segments, respectively.

Intangible assets, net in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):

	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
August 29, 2020
Customer contracts	$	234,065	$	177,119	$	56,946
Software		66,014		39,020		26,994
Other intangible assets		35,741		34,145		1,596
	$	335,820	$	250,284	$	85,536
August 31, 2019
Customer contracts	$	221,306	$	164,718	$	56,588
Software		48,838		34,813		14,025
Other intangible assets		35,063		32,956		2,107
	$	305,207	$	232,487	$	72,720

Estimated amortization expense for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 29, 2020 and thereafter, based on intangible assets, net as of August 29, 2020 is as follows (in thousands):

2021	$	14,127
2022		12,573
2023		10,633
2024		9,367
2025		8,276
Thereafter		30,560
Total estimated amortization expense	$	85,536

Accrued Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Liabilities

9. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet consists of the following (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Current liabilities:
Payroll and benefit related	$	46,789	$	36,634
Bonuses		13,803		14,288
Insurance related		34,403		31,778
Environmental related		11,172		9,785
Other		26,798		19,236
Total current liabilities	$	132,965	$	111,721
Long-term liabilities:
Benefit related	$	38,744	$	35,883
Environmental related		19,530		17,933
Asset retirement obligations		13,920		12,727
Insurance related		60,626		50,531
Total long-term liabilities	$	132,820	$	117,074
Total accrued liabilities	$	265,785	$	228,795

Asset Retirement Obligations

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligations

10. Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset retirement obligations generally result from legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. Accordingly, the Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The Company continues to depreciate, on a straight-line basis, the amount added to property, plant and equipment and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the various remaining lives which range from approximately one to twenty-five years.

The Company recognized as a liability the present value of the estimated future costs to decommission its nuclear laundry facilities. The estimated liability is based on historical experience in decommissioning nuclear laundry facilities, estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, external vendor estimates as to the cost to decommission these assets in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The estimated current costs have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year. The liability has been discounted using credit-adjusted risk-free rates that range from approximately 7.0% to 7.5% over approximately one to twenty-five years. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in the Company’s estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, estimated dates of decommissioning, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory guidance on the decommissioning of such facilities, or other changes in estimates. Changes due to revised estimates will be recognized by adjusting the carrying amount of the liability and the related long-lived asset if the assets are still in service, or charged to expense in the period if the assets are no longer in service.

A rollforward of the Company’s asset retirement liability is as follows for fiscal 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Beginning balance	$	12,727	$	13,668
Accretion expense		929		865
Effect of exchange rate changes		264		(165	)
Change in estimate		—		(1,641	)
Ending balance	$	13,920	$	12,727

The Company’s asset retirement obligations are included in current accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company has operating leases for certain operating facilities, vehicles and equipment, which provide the right to use the underlying asset and require lease payments over the term of the lease. Each new contract is evaluated to determine if an arrangement contains a lease and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. All identified leases are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet with a corresponding operating lease right-of-use asset, net, representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and the operating lease liabilities representing the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Short-term operating leases, which have an initial term of twelve months or less, are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet.

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net and operating lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term and include options to extend or terminate the lease when they are reasonably certain to be exercised. The present value of lease payments is determined primarily using the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available as of the lease commencement date. Lease expense for operating leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease costs are recorded as incurred. Both lease expense and variable lease costs are primarily recorded in cost of revenues on the Company's consolidated statements of income. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

The following table presents the operating lease cost and information related to the operating lease right-of-use assets, net and operating lease liabilities for the fifty-two weeks ended August 29, 2020:

(In thousands, except lease term and discount rate)
Lease cost
Operating lease costs including short-term lease expense and variable lease costs, which were immaterial in the period	$	18,125

Operating cash flow impacts
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	$	13,048
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$	7,407
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases	4.3
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		2.76	%

Total rent expense on all leases was $15.2 million, $16.5 million and $14.8 million for the fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The contractual future minimum lease payments of the Company's operating lease liabilities by fiscal year are as follows as of August 29, 2020:

(In thousands)
2021	$	13,458
2022		10,581
2023		7,692
2024		5,314
2025		3,288
Thereafter		3,895
Total payments		44,228
Less interest		2,380
Total present value of lease payments	$	41,848

Environmental and Legal Contingencies

The Company and its operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes and other substances. In particular, industrial laundries currently use and must dispose of detergent waste water and other residues, and, in the past, used perchloroethylene and other dry-cleaning solvents. The Company is attentive to the environmental concerns surrounding the disposal of these materials and has, through the years, taken measures to avoid their improper disposal. The Company has settled, or contributed to the settlement of, past actions or claims brought against

the Company relating to the disposal of hazardous materials at several sites and there can be no assurance that the Company will not have to expend material amounts to remediate the consequences of any such disposal in the future.

U.S. GAAP requires that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. The Company regularly consults with attorneys and outside consultants in its consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances before recording a contingent liability. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management’s estimates of costs, risk-free interest rates, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments, the input of the Company’s attorneys and outside consultants or other factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities.

Under environmental laws, an owner or lessee of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances located on, or in, or emanating from, such property, as well as related costs of investigation and property damage. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or lessee knew of, or was responsible for the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. There can be no assurances that acquired or leased locations have been operated in compliance with environmental laws and regulations or that future uses or conditions will not result in the imposition of liability upon the Company under such laws or expose the Company to third-party actions such as tort suits. The Company continues to address environmental conditions under terms of consent orders negotiated with the applicable environmental authorities or otherwise with respect to certain sites.

The Company has accrued certain costs related to certain sites, including but not limited to sites in Woburn and Somerville, Massachusetts, as it has been determined that the costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company has potential exposure related to a parcel of land (the “Central Area”) related to a site in Woburn, Massachusetts. Currently, the consent decree for the Woburn site does not define or require any remediation work in the Central Area. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) has provided the Company and other signatories to the consent decree with comments on the design and implementation of groundwater and soil remedies at the Woburn site and investigation of environmental conditions in the Central Area. The Company, and other signatories, have implemented and proposed to do additional work at the Woburn site but many of the EPA’s comments remain to be resolved. The Company has accrued costs to perform certain work responsive to the EPA’s comments. Additionally, the Company has implemented mitigation measures and continues to monitor environmental conditions at the Somerville, Massachusetts site. The Company has received, responded, and agreed to undertake additional response actions pertaining to a notice of audit findings from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection concerning a regulatory submittal that the Company made in 2009 for a portion of the site. The Company has received demands from the local transit authority for reimbursement of certain costs associated with its construction of a new municipal transit station in the area of the Somerville site. This station is part of an ongoing extension of the transit system. The Company has reserved for costs in connection with this matter; however, in light of the uncertainties associated with this matter, these costs and the related reserve may change.

The Company routinely reviews and evaluates sites that may require remediation and monitoring and determines its estimated costs based on various estimates and assumptions. These estimates are developed using its internal sources or by third party environmental engineers or other service providers. Internally developed estimates are based on:

•	Management’s judgment and experience in remediating and monitoring the Company’s sites;

•	Information available from regulatory agencies as to costs of remediation and monitoring;

•	The number, financial resources and relative degree of responsibility of other potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) who may be liable for remediation and monitoring of a specific site; and

•	The typical allocation of costs among PRPs.

There is usually a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with each site. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company’s accruals reflect the amount within the range that it believes is the best estimate or the low end of a range of estimates if no point within the range is a better estimate. Where it believes that both the amount of a particular liability and the timing of the payments are reliably determinable, the Company adjusts the cost in current dollars using a rate of 3% for inflation until the time of expected payment and discounts the cost to present value using current risk-free interest rates. As of August 29, 2020, the risk-free interest rates utilized by the Company ranged from 0.7 to 1.5%.

For environmental liabilities that have been discounted, the Company includes interest accretion, based on the effective interest method, in selling and administrative expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. The changes to the Company’s environmental liabilities for fiscal 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

Year ended	August 29, 2020			August 31, 2019
Beginning balance	$	27,718		$	25,486
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided		(1,160	)		(1,079	)
Insurance proceeds		111			143
Interest accretion		537			755
Changes in discount rates		1,133			2,239
Revisions in estimates		2,363			174
Ending balance	$	30,702		$	27,718

Anticipated payments and insurance proceeds of currently identified environmental remediation liabilities as of August 29, 2020, for the next five fiscal years and thereafter, as measured in current dollars, are reflected below.

(In thousands)	2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			Thereafter			Total
Estimated costs—current dollars	$	11,368		$	2,668		$	1,371		$	1,073		$	1,076		$	11,852		$	29,408
Estimated insurance proceeds		(197	)		(159	)		(173	)		(159	)		(173	)		(521	)		(1,382	)
Net anticipated costs	$	11,171		$	2,509		$	1,198		$	914		$	903		$	11,331		$	28,026
Effect of inflation																				7,251
Effect of discounting																				(4,575	)
Balance as of August 29, 2020																			$	30,702

Estimated insurance proceeds are primarily received from an annuity received as part of a legal settlement with an insurance company. Annual proceeds of approximately $0.3 million are deposited into an escrow account which funds remediation and monitoring costs for two sites related to former operations. Annual proceeds received but not expended in the current year accumulate in this account and may be used in future years for costs related to this site through the year 2027. As of August 29, 2020, the balance in this escrow account, which is held in a trust and is not recorded in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet, was approximately $4.5 million. Also included in estimated insurance proceeds are amounts the Company is entitled to receive pursuant to legal settlements as reimbursements from three insurance companies for estimated costs at one of its sites.

The Company’s nuclear garment decontamination facilities are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”), or, in certain cases, by the applicable state agency, and are subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities. There can be no assurance that such regulation will not lead to material disruptions in the Company’s garment decontamination business.

During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $55.8 million once it was determined that it was not probable that a Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) system that was being developed would be completed and placed into service. On December 28, 2018, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with its lead contractor for the version of the CRM system with respect to which the Company recorded the impairment charge. As part of the settlement agreement, the Company recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 a total gain of $21.1 million as a reduction of selling and administrative expenses, which includes the Company’s receipt of a one-time cash payment in the amount of $13.0 million as well as the forgiveness of amounts previously due the contractor. The Company also received hardware and related maintenance service with a fair value of $0.8 million as part of the settlement.

From time to time, the Company is also subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of its business operations, including personal injury claims, customer contract matters, employment claims and environmental matters as described above.

While it is impossible for the Company to ascertain the ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including lawsuits and environmental contingencies, the Company believes that the aggregate amount of such liabilities, if any, in excess of amounts covered by insurance have been properly accrued in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It is possible, however, that the future financial position and/or results of operations for any particular future period could be

materially affected by changes in the Company’s assumptions or strategies related to these contingencies or changes out of the Company’s control.

Other Contingent Liabilities

As security for certain agreements with the NRC and various state agencies related to the nuclear operations (see above) and certain insurance programs, the Company had standby irrevocable bank commercial letters of credit of $70.8 million and $71.8 million outstanding as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, respectively.

Non-cancellable purchase commitments for inventories, software, and services amounted to $22.4 million as of August 29, 2020, of which $19.0 million will be paid in less than 1 year, $3.2 million will be paid in 1 to 3 years, and the remaining will be paid in 3 to years.

Share-based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation

12. Share-based Compensation

The Company adopted a stock incentive plan (the “1996 Plan”) in November 1996 and reserved 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 1996 Plan. The 1996 Plan provided for the issuance of stock options and stock appreciation rights. The Company ceased granting new awards under the 1996 Plan as of January 21, 2011, and the 1996 Plan expired in accordance with its terms on January 8, 2012. The Company adopted a stock incentive plan (the “2010 Plan”) in October 2010 and reserved 600,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2010 Plan. The 2010 Plan replaced the Company’s 1996 Plan. The 2010 Plan permits the award of incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock and performance shares (collectively referred to as “Share-Based Awards”) as well as dividend equivalent rights and cash-based awards. On October 27, 2014, the Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders, which was received at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, adopted an amendment to the 2010 Plan to, among other matters, reserve for issuance an additional 750,000 shares and extend to 2025 the time period awards may be granted under the 2010 Plan. As of August 29, 2020, the number of remaining shares available for future grants under the 2010 Plan was 311,055. Share-based compensation, which includes expense related to Share-Based Awards, has been recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income in selling and administrative expenses.

All Share-Based Awards issued to management were recommended to the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. All Share-Based Awards issued to the Company’s non-employee members of the Board of Directors (the “Directors”) under the 2010 Plan were recommended to the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Share-Based Awards granted to non-employee Directors are granted on the third business day following the annual shareholders’ meeting.

In fiscal 2019 and 2018, a total of 291 and 234 shares of fully vested unrestricted stock, respectively, were granted to certain non-employee Directors of the Company. No such shares were granted during fiscal 2020. Accordingly, compensation expense related to the 2019 and 2018 unrestricted stock was recognized on the date of grant.

In each of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted a total of 5,000 stock appreciation rights under the 2010 Plan to the Company’s non-employee Directors. Such stock appreciation rights were fully vested upon grant, expire on the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the grant date or the second anniversary of the date that the Director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors and must be settled in stock at the time of exercise. Accordingly, compensation expense related to the stock appreciation rights was recognized on the date of grant.

As of August 29, 2020, the total compensation cost not yet recognized related to non-vested Share-Based Awards was approximately $13.7 million. The weighted average period over which compensation cost for Share-Based Awards will be recognized is 2.2 years.

All stock appreciation rights issued to employees were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair net realizable value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. Other than certain stock appreciation rights which vest 20% on each anniversary of the grant date over a five-year period and beginning in fiscal 2020, certain stock appreciation rights which vest 60% on the third anniversary of the grant date and 20% on each of the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, stock appreciation rights are subject to a five-year cliff-vesting schedule under which the awards become fully vested or exercisable after five years from the date of grant and expire ten years after the grant date. Share-Based Awards granted to the Company’s non-employee Directors were fully vested as of the date of grant. Beginning in fiscal 2009, non-employee Director Share-Based Award grants in the form of stock options and stock appreciation rights expire on the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the grant date or the second anniversary of the date that the Director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors.

Time-based restricted stock units granted to employees vest either 20% on each anniversary of the grant date over a five-year period, 33% on each anniversary of the grant date over a three-year period or on a five-year cliff vesting schedule under which the awards become fully vested after five years from the date of grant. Beginning in fiscal 2020, certain time-based restricted stock units granted to employees vest 60% on the third anniversary of the grant date and 20% on each of the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date. Generally, performance-based restricted stock units granted to employees are earned based on whether and the extent to which the Company achieves certain consolidated revenues and adjusted operating margins.

The fair value of each stock appreciation right is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used:

Fiscal year ended August	2020			2019			2018
Risk-free interest rate		1.69	%		3.07	%		2.23	%
Expected dividend yield		0.50	%		0.48	%		0.18	%
Expected life in years		5.60			7.24			7.41
Expected volatility		22.4	%		22.9	%		23.1	%

The weighted average fair values of Share-Based Awards granted in the form of stock appreciation rights during fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $46.58, $46.20 and $47.51, respectively.

The following table summarizes the Share-Based Awards activity in the form of stock options and stock appreciation rights for fiscal 2020:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, August 31, 2019		570,250		$	122.03
Granted		35,396			203.04
Exercised		(92,501	)		98.96
Forfeited		(18,212	)		121.83
Outstanding, August 29, 2020		494,933		$	132.14

Exercisable, August 29, 2020		150,099		$	113.69

The following table summarizes the Share-Based Awards activity in the form of restricted stock units for fiscal 2020:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Grant Price
Unvested balance at August 31, 2019		28,533		$	153.96
Granted		36,421			201.29
Vested		(6,434	)		156.99
Forfeited		(600	)		201.24
Unvested balance at August 29, 2020		57,920		$	183.90

Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

13. Shareholders’ Equity

The Company has two classes of common stock: Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, is freely transferable, and is entitled to a cash dividend equal to 125% of any cash dividend paid on each share of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes and can be converted to Common Stock on a share-for-share basis. However, until converted to Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock are not freely transferable. For the year ended August 31, 2019, 67,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were converted to Common Stock.

On March 27, 2018, the Company repurchased 1.105 million shares of Class B Common Stock and 0.073 million shares of Common Stock for a combined $146.0 million in a private transaction with the Croatti family at a per share price of $124.00.

This opportunity to repurchase shares from the Croatti family was evaluated by an independent special committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”). The sale of shares by the Croatti family was executed to provide liquidity as well as for estate and family financial planning following the passing of former UniFirst Chief Executive Officer, Ronald D. Croatti.

The Special Committee determined that a repurchase of Croatti family Class B Common Stock at a discount to market was in the best interests of the Company as it is accretive to income per share and addresses uncertainties that may have been created if the Croatti family had pursued other liquidity options. The Special Committee undertook its evaluation with the assistance of Stifel Financial Corp. (“Stifel”) and received an opinion from Stifel to the effect that, as of March 27, 2018, the $124.00 per share in cash to be paid was fair to the Company, from a financial point of view. The entire Board of Directors other than Cynthia Croatti, who is affiliated with the selling shareholders and therefore abstained, approved the transaction upon the recommendation of the Special Committee.

On March 28, 2018, the Company announced that it would be raising its quarterly dividend to $0.1125 per share for Common Stock and to $0.09 per share for Class B Common Stock, up from $0.0375 and $0.03 per share, respectively.

On October 23, 2019, the Company announced that it would be raising its quarterly dividend to $0.25 per share for Common Stock and to $0.20 per share for Class B Common Stock, up from $0.1125 and $0.09 per share, respectively. The amount and timing of any future dividend payment is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors each quarter.

On January 2, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase from time to time up to $100.0 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock. Repurchases made under the program, if any, will be made in either the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including economic and market conditions, the Company stock price, corporate liquidity requirements and priorities, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program will be funded using the Company’s available cash or capacity under its Credit Agreement and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. During fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased approximately 118,000 shares for an average price per share of $184.67. During fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 197,150 shares for an average price per share of $154.78. Currently, there is $47.7 million remaining to repurchase outstanding shares of Common Stock under this program.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for fiscal 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in thousands):

	Foreign Currency Translation			Pension- related (1)			Derivative Financial Instruments (1)			Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of August 25, 2018	$	(21,116	)	$	(4,135	)	$	92		$	(25,159	)
Change during the year		(3,524	)		(5,104	)		99			(8,529	)
Balance as of August 31, 2019		(24,640	)		(9,239	)		191			(33,688	)
Change during the year		2,631			(787	)		(126	)		1,718
Balance as of August 29, 2020	$	(22,009	)	$	(10,026	)	$	65		$	(31,970	)

(1)	Amounts are shown net of tax.

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for fiscal 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended August 29, 2020		Year Ended August 31, 2019
Pension benefit liabilities, net:
Actuarial losses (a)	$	233	$	645
Tax effect reclass		—		—
Total, net of tax		233		645
Derivative financial instruments, net:
Forward contracts loss (gain) (b)		151		(153	)
Total, net of tax		151		(153	)
Total amounts reclassified, net of tax	$	384	$	492

(a)	Amounts included in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

(b)	Amounts included in revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Segment Reporting

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

15. Segment Reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Company’s chief executive officer. The Company has six operating segments based on the information reviewed by its chief executive officer: U.S. Rental and Cleaning, Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, Specialty Garments, First Aid and Corporate. The U.S. Rental and Cleaning and Canadian Rental and Cleaning operating segments have been combined to form the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment, and as a result, the Company has five reporting segments.

The U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, uniforms and protective clothing and non-garment items in the United States and Canada. The laundry locations of the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment are referred to by the Company as “industrial laundries” or “industrial laundry locations.”

The MFG operating segment designs and manufactures uniforms and non-garment items primarily for the purpose of providing these goods to the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment. MFG revenues are primarily generated when goods are shipped from the Company’s manufacturing facilities, or its subcontract manufacturers, to other Company locations. These intercompany revenues are recorded at a transfer price which is typically in excess of the actual manufacturing cost. Manufactured products are carried in inventory until placed in service at which time they are amortized at this transfer price. On a consolidated basis, intercompany revenues and income are eliminated and the carrying value of inventories and rental merchandise in service is reduced to the manufacturing cost. Income before income taxes from MFG net of the intercompany MFG elimination offsets the merchandise amortization costs incurred by the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment as the merchandise costs of this reporting segment are amortized and recognized based on inventories purchased from MFG at the transfer price which is above the Company’s manufacturing cost.

The Corporate operating segment consists of costs associated with the Company’s distribution center, sales and marketing, information systems, engineering, procurement, supply chain, accounting and finance, human resources, other general and administrative costs and interest expense. The revenues generated from the Corporate operating segment represent certain direct sales made by the Company directly from its distribution center. The products sold by this operating segment are the same products rented and sold by the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment. In the table below, no assets or capital expenditures are presented for the Corporate operating segment because no assets are allocated to this operating segment in the information reviewed by the chief executive officer. However, depreciation and amortization expense related to certain assets are reflected in income from operations and income before income taxes for the Corporate operating segment. The assets that give rise to this depreciation and amortization are included in the total assets of the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning reporting segment as this is how they are tracked and reviewed by the Company. The majority of expenses accounted for within the Corporate segment relate to costs of the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning segment, with the remainder of the costs relating to the Specialty Garment and First Aid segments.

The Specialty Garments operating segment purchases, rents, cleans, delivers and sells, specialty garments and non-garment items primarily for nuclear and cleanroom applications and provides cleanroom cleaning services at limited customer locations. The First Aid operating segment sells first aid cabinet services and other safety supplies, provides certain safety training and maintains wholesale distribution and pill packaging operations.

The Company refers to the U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, MFG, and Corporate reporting segments combined as its “Core Laundry Operations,” which is included as a subtotal in the following tables (in thousands):

As of and for the year ended August 29, 2020	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,552,179		$	214,683	$	(214,683	)	$	49,306		$	1,601,485		$	133,185	$	69,489	$	1,804,159
Income (loss) from operations	$	247,392		$	64,097	$	10,012		$	(171,514	)	$	149,987		$	17,845	$	4,897	$	172,729
Interest (income) expense, net	$	(3,741	)	$	—	$	—		$	(2,641	)	$	(6,382	)	$	—	$	—	$	(6,382	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	251,088		$	63,912	$	10,012		$	(170,629	)	$	154,383		$	18,604	$	4,901	$	177,888
Depreciation and amortization	$	71,020		$	2,404	$	—		$	24,983		$	98,407		$	4,335	$	1,955	$	104,697
Capital expenditures	$	110,024		$	397	$	—		$	—		$	110,421		$	4,864	$	1,432	$	116,717
Total assets	$	1,992,546		$	33,233	$	—		$	—		$	2,025,779		$	131,328	$	41,920	$	2,199,027

As of and for the year ended August 31, 2019	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,582,416		$	254,218	$	(254,111	)	$	33,682		$	1,616,205		$	132,767	$	60,404	$	1,809,376
Income (loss) from operations	$	235,046		$	84,248	$	1,128		$	(107,468	)	$	212,954		$	14,145	$	4,909	$	232,008
Interest income, net	$	(4,105	)	$	—	$	—		$	(4,977	)	$	(9,082	)	$	—	$	—	$	(9,082	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	239,122		$	84,008	$	1,128		$	(104,742	)	$	219,516		$	13,499	$	4,909	$	237,924
Depreciation and amortization	$	69,376		$	2,384	$	—		$	25,098		$	96,858		$	4,759	$	1,716	$	103,333
Capital expenditures	$	115,071		$	401	$	—		$	—		$	115,472		$	3,423	$	920	$	119,815
Total assets	$	1,865,713		$	36,376	$	—		$	—		$	1,902,089		$	110,335	$	34,896	$	2,047,320

As of and for the year ended August 25, 2018	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,485,548		$	247,530	$	(247,424	)	$	37,994		$	1,523,648		$	118,477	$	54,364	$	1,696,489
Income (loss) from operations	$	213,322		$	89,035	$	(9,658	)	$	(129,111	)	$	163,588		$	14,070	$	4,718	$	182,376
Interest (income) expense, net	$	(3,927	)	$	—	$	—		$	(1,616	)	$	(5,543	)	$	—	$	—	$	(5,543	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	217,252		$	88,856	$	(9,658	)	$	(127,510	)	$	168,940		$	13,589	$	4,717	$	187,246
Depreciation and amortization	$	64,481		$	2,238	$	—		$	24,108		$	90,827		$	4,244	$	1,591	$	96,662
Capital expenditures	$	105,481		$	2,882	$	—		$	—		$	108,363		$	3,781	$	603	$	112,747
Total assets	$	1,670,713		$	33,622	$	—		$	—		$	1,704,335		$	110,811	$	28,240	$	1,843,386

The Company’s long-lived assets as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 and revenues and income before income taxes for the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018 were attributed to the following countries (in thousands):

Long-lived assets as of:	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
United States	$	1,177,107	$	1,087,901
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua (1)		52,586		45,628
Total	$	1,229,693	$	1,133,529

Revenues for fiscal years:	2020		2019		2018
United States	$	1,659,913	$	1,683,321	$	1,559,780
Europe and Canada (1)		144,246		126,055		136,709
Total	$	1,804,159	$	1,809,376	$	1,696,489

Income before income taxes for fiscal years:	2020		2019		2018
United States	$	175,301	$	236,843	$	184,605
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua (1)		2,587		1,081		2,641
Total	$	177,888	$	237,924	$	187,246

(1)No country accounts for greater than 10% of total long-lived assets, revenues or income before income taxes

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of the results of operations for each of the quarters within the years ended August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019. This quarterly financial information was prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission; however, the Company believes that the information furnished reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which were, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results in the interim periods. This summary should be read in conjunction with these Consolidated Financial Statements and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(In thousands, except per share data) For the year ended August 29, 2020	First Quarter (1)		Second Quarter (2)		Third Quarter (3)		Fourth Quarter
Revenues	$	465,398	$	464,600	$	445,518	$	428,643
Income before income taxes		61,928		45,763		27,206		42,991
Provision for income taxes		13,686		11,083		5,921		11,428
Net income	$	48,242	$	34,680	$	21,285	$	31,563

Income per share—basic
Common Stock	$	2.65	$	1.90	$	1.17	$	1.74
Class B Common Stock	$	2.12	$	1.52	$	0.94	$	1.39

Income per share—diluted
Common Stock	$	2.52	$	1.82	$	1.12	$	1.66

Income allocated to—basic
Common Stock	$	40,526	$	29,129	$	17,871	$	26,499
Class B Common Stock	$	7,716	$	5,551	$	3,414	$	5,064

Income allocated to—diluted
Common Stock	$	48,242	$	34,680	$	21,285	$	31,563

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic
Common Stock		15,308		15,293		15,255		15,250
Class B Common Stock		3,643		3,643		3,643		3,643

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted
Common Stock		19,123		19,105		18,995		19,019

(1)	During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 50,600 shares for an average price per share of $197.11.

(2)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 20,500 shares for an average price per share of $206.34.

(3)	During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 46,667 shares for an average price per share of $161.65.

(In thousands, except per share data) For the year ended August 31, 2019	First Quarter		Second Quarter (1)		Third Quarter (2)		Fourth Quarter (3)
Revenues	$	438,550	$	437,485	$	453,720	$	479,621
Income before income taxes		51,959		63,395		61,700		60,870
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		13,639		15,789		14,480		14,882
Net income	$	38,320	$	47,606	$	47,220	$	45,988

Income per share—basic
Common Stock	$	2.08	$	2.59	$	2.58	$	2.52
Class B Common Stock	$	1.67	$	2.07	$	2.06	$	2.01

Income per share—diluted
Common Stock	$	1.99	$	2.48	$	2.46	$	2.40

Income allocated to—basic
Common Stock	$	32,137	$	39,923	$	39,563	$	38,619
Class B Common Stock	$	6,183	$	7,683	$	7,657	$	7,369

Income allocated to—diluted
Common Stock	$	38,320	$	47,606	$	47,220	$	45,988

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic
Common Stock		15,432		15,428		15,341		15,340
Class B Common Stock		3,710		3,710		3,710		3,659

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted
Common Stock		19,302		19,232		19,168		19,159

(1)

During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 45,000 shares for an average price per share of $139.57.

During fiscal 2017, we recorded a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $55.8 million once it was determined that it was not probable that a CRM system that was being developed would be completed and placed into service. During fiscal 2020, we entered into a settlement agreement with our lead contractor for the version of the CRM system with respect to which we recorded the impairment charge. As part of the settlement agreement, we recorded a total gain of $21.1 million as a reduction of selling and administrative expenses, which includes our receipt of a one-time cash payment in the amount of $13.0 million as well as the forgiveness of amounts previously due the contractor. We also received hardware and related maintenance service with a fair value of $0.8 million as part of the settlement. This gain, net of tax, benefitted the Company’s diluted income per share by $0.81 in fiscal 2020.

(2)

During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 99,500 shares for an average price per share of $147.47.

(3)

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 52,650 shares for an average price per share of $181.61.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in August. For financial reporting purposes, fiscal 2020 consisted of 52 weeks, and fiscal 2019 consisted of 53 weeks. Each of the quarterly periods contained 13 weeks except for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 which contained 14 weeks.

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

Schedule II—Valuation and qualifying accounts and reserves for each of the three years in the period ended August 29, 2020

UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

FOR EACH OF THE THREE YEARS IN THE PERIOD ENDED

AUGUST 29, 2020 (IN THOUSANDS)

Description	Balance, Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Charges for Which Reserves Were Created or Deductions			Balance, End of Period
Reserves for Accounts Receivable
For the year ended August 29, 2020	$	9,935	$	6,027	$	(3,837	)	$	12,125
For the year ended August 31, 2019	$	9,237	$	5,996	$	(5,298	)	$	9,935
For the year ended August 25, 2018	$	8,719	$	5,882	$	(5,364	)	$	9,237

Separate financial statements of the Company have been omitted because the Company is primarily an operating company and all subsidiaries included in the Consolidated Financial Statements are totally held.

All other schedules have been omitted since the required information is not present or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business Description

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

Use of Estimates

Fiscal Year

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Accounts receivable

Financial Instruments

Revenue Recognition

The following table presents the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018 disaggregated by service type:

	Years ended
	August 29, 2020					August 31, 2019					August 25, 2018
(In thousands, except percentages)	Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues
Core Laundry Operations	$	1,601,485		88.8	%	$	1,616,205		89.3	%	$	1,523,648		89.8	%
Specialty Garments		133,185		7.4	%		132,767		7.3	%		118,477		7.0	%
First Aid		69,489		3.9	%		60,404		3.4	%		54,364		3.2	%
Total Revenues	$	1,804,159		100.0	%	$	1,809,376		100.0	%	$	1,696,489		100.0	%

Costs to Obtain a Contract

Inventories and Rental Merchandise in Service

The components of inventory as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Raw materials	$	20,266	$	23,000
Work in process		2,730		2,864
Finished goods		83,273		75,052
Total inventory	$	106,269	$	100,916

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized.

The components of property, plant and equipment as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Land, buildings and leasehold equipment	$	558,277	$	527,419
Machinery and equipment		585,211		565,319
Motor vehicles		278,098		253,841
		1,421,586		1,346,579
Less: accumulated depreciation		839,116		772,070
Total property, plant and equipment	$	582,470	$	574,509

The Company provides for depreciation on the straight-line method based on the date the asset is placed in service using the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings (in years)		30 — 40
Building components (in years)		10 — 20
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Machinery and equipment (in years)		3 — 10
Motor vehicles (in years)		3 — 5

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Environmental and Other Contingencies

Asset Retirement Obligations

Insurance

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and Other Pension Plans

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and other Pension Plans

Pension expense is recognized on an accrual basis over employees’ estimated service periods. Pension expense is generally independent of funding decisions or requirements.

Income Taxes

Advertising Costs

Share-Based Compensation

Income Per Share

The Company calculates income per share by allocating income to its unvested participating securities as part of its income per share calculations.

Year ended	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019		August 25, 2018
Net income available to shareholders	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common Stock	$	114,017	$	150,247	$	133,802
Class B Common Stock		21,753		28,887		30,093
	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common Stock		15,276		15,385		15,454
Class B Common Stock		3,643		3,697		4,357
		18,919		19,082		19,811
Income per share for Basic:
Common Stock	$	7.46	$	9.77	$	8.66
Class B Common Stock	$	5.97	$	7.81	$	6.91

The Company is required to calculate the diluted income per share for Common Stock using the more dilutive of the following two methods:

•	The treasury stock method; or

•	The two-class method assuming a participating security is not exercised or converted.

	Year Ended August 29, 2020						Year Ended August 31, 2019						Year Ended August 25, 2018
	Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share
As reported—Basic	$	114,017		15,276	$	7.46	$	150,247		15,385	$	9.77	$	133,802		15,454	$	8.66
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards		—		123				—		114				—		152
Class B Common Stock		21,753		3,643				28,887		3,697				30,093		4,357
Diluted Income Per Share— Common Stock	$	135,770		19,042	$	7.13	$	179,134		19,196	$	9.33	$	163,895		19,963	$	8.21

Foreign Currency Translation

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Total Revenue Disaggregated by Service Type

The following table presents the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018 disaggregated by service type:

	Years ended
	August 29, 2020					August 31, 2019					August 25, 2018
(In thousands, except percentages)	Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues			Revenues		% of Revenues
Core Laundry Operations	$	1,601,485		88.8	%	$	1,616,205		89.3	%	$	1,523,648		89.8	%
Specialty Garments		133,185		7.4	%		132,767		7.3	%		118,477		7.0	%
First Aid		69,489		3.9	%		60,404		3.4	%		54,364		3.2	%
Total Revenues	$	1,804,159		100.0	%	$	1,809,376		100.0	%	$	1,696,489		100.0	%

Schedule of Components of Inventory

The components of inventory as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Raw materials	$	20,266	$	23,000
Work in process		2,730		2,864
Finished goods		83,273		75,052
Total inventory	$	106,269	$	100,916

Schedule of Components of Property, Plant and Equipment

The components of property, plant and equipment as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Land, buildings and leasehold equipment	$	558,277	$	527,419
Machinery and equipment		585,211		565,319
Motor vehicles		278,098		253,841
		1,421,586		1,346,579
Less: accumulated depreciation		839,116		772,070
Total property, plant and equipment	$	582,470	$	574,509

Schedule of Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment

The Company provides for depreciation on the straight-line method based on the date the asset is placed in service using the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings (in years)		30 — 40
Building components (in years)		10 — 20
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Machinery and equipment (in years)		3 — 10
Motor vehicles (in years)		3 — 5

Schedule of Computation of Basic Income Per Share

Year ended	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019		August 25, 2018
Net income available to shareholders	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common Stock	$	114,017	$	150,247	$	133,802
Class B Common Stock		21,753		28,887		30,093
	$	135,770	$	179,134	$	163,895
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common Stock		15,276		15,385		15,454
Class B Common Stock		3,643		3,697		4,357
		18,919		19,082		19,811
Income per share for Basic:
Common Stock	$	7.46	$	9.77	$	8.66
Class B Common Stock	$	5.97	$	7.81	$	6.91

Schedule of Computation of Diluted Income Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted income per share of Common Stock for the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018 (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended August 29, 2020						Year Ended August 31, 2019						Year Ended August 25, 2018
	Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share		Earnings to Common shareholders		Common Shares		Income Per Share
As reported—Basic	$	114,017		15,276	$	7.46	$	150,247		15,385	$	9.77	$	133,802		15,454	$	8.66
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards		—		123				—		114				—		152
Class B Common Stock		21,753		3,643				28,887		3,697				30,093		4,357
Diluted Income Per Share— Common Stock	$	135,770		19,042	$	7.13	$	179,134		19,196	$	9.33	$	163,895		19,963	$	8.21

Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of Acquisition of Business

Aggregate information relating to the acquisition of businesses which were accounted for as purchases is as follows (in thousands, except number of businesses acquired):

Year ended	August 29, 2020			August 31, 2019		August 25, 2018
Number of businesses acquired	$	8		$	6	$	9
Tangible assets acquired		6,370			322		7,743
Goodwill		23,544			3,929		21,459
Customer contracts		12,697			1,344		11,751
Other intangible assets		594			118		900
Liabilities assumed		(1,872	)		—		(95	)
Acquisition of businesses	$	41,333		$	5,713	$	41,758

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Assets or Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the tables below (in thousands):

	As of August 29, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	196,478	$	—	$	—	$	196,478
Pension plan assets		—		4,146		—		4,146
Foreign currency forward contracts		—		87		—		87
Total assets at fair value	$	196,478	$	4,233	$	—	$	200,711

	As of August 31, 2019
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	214,038	$	—	$	—	$	214,038
Pension plan assets		—		4,603		—		4,603
Foreign currency forward contracts		—		254		—		254
Total assets at fair value	$	214,038	$	4,857	$	—	$	218,895

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of Provision / (Benefit) for Income Taxes

The provision / (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

Fiscal year	2020			2019			2018
Current:
Federal	$	40,084		$	38,545		$	23,815
Foreign		1,589			(200	)		527
State		12,865			11,733			8,012
Total current	$	54,538		$	50,078		$	32,354
Deferred:
Federal	$	(8,522	)	$	7,289		$	(11,517	)
Foreign		(599	)		645			363
State		(3,299	)		778			2,151
Total deferred	$	(12,420	)	$	8,712		$	(9,003	)
Total	$	42,118		$	58,790		$	23,351

Reconciliation of Provision for Income Taxes

The following table reconciles the provision for income taxes using the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual provision for income taxes:

Fiscal year	2020			2019			2018
Income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate		21.0	%		21.0	%		25.9	%
State income taxes		4.4			4.3			4.1
Other		(1.7	)		(0.6	)		(2.8	)
Deemed Repatriation of Non—U.S. Earnings, net foreign tax credits and other (collectively, Transition Tax)		—			—			1.4
Impact of U.S. tax reform federal tax rate reduction		—			—			(16.1	)
Total		23.7	%		24.7	%		12.5	%

Components of Deferred Income Taxes

The components of deferred income taxes included on the consolidated balance sheets are as follows (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Deferred Tax Assets
Payroll and benefit related	$	17,451	$	15,929
Insurance related		13,790		11,948
Environmental		7,856		7,093
Accrued expenses		6,270		2,164
Operating lease liabilities		8,720		—
Other		7,536		7,301
Total deferred tax assets	$	61,623	$	44,435
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Payroll and benefit related	$	17,722	$	16,056
Tax in excess of book depreciation		41,713		42,691
Purchased intangible assets		32,892		29,633
Rental merchandise in service		38,846		46,649
Operating lease right-of-use assets		8,952		—
Other		191		290
Total deferred tax liabilities		140,316		135,319
Net deferred tax liability	$	78,693	$	90,884

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at August 25, 2018	$	2,198
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		329
Additions for tax positions of prior years		5,535
Statute expirations		(394	)
Balance at August 31, 2019		7,668
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		475
Reduction for tax positions of prior years		(1,389	)
Statute expirations		(424	)
Balance at August 29, 2020	$	6,330

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The components of net periodic benefit cost related to the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans									SERP
	2020			2019			2018			2020		2019		2018
Service cost	$	113		$	114		$	115		$	918	$	725	$	694
Interest cost		131			260			257			1,027		1,148		1,027
Expected return on assets		(138	)		(199	)		(174	)		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service cost		66			66			66			—		—		—
Amortization of unrecognized loss		—			51			102			703		247		362
Other events		12			503			96			—		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	184		$	795		$	462		$	2,648	$	2,120	$	2,083

Schedule of Obligations and Funded Status

The Company’s obligations and funded status related to its Pension Plans and SERP as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	5,566		$	7,449		$	35,967		$	27,547
Service cost		113			114			918			725
Interest cost		131			260			1,027			1,148
Actuarial loss		169			163			1,658			7,456
Benefits paid		(224	)		(50	)		(954	)		(909	)
Settlements		(287	)		(2,370	)		—			—
Projected benefit obligation, end of year	$	5,468		$	5,566		$	38,616		$	35,967

Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	$	4,603		$	6,325		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		54			170			—			—
Employer contributions		—			528			—			—
Benefits paid		(224	)		(50	)		—			—
Settlements		(287	)		(2,370	)		—			—
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	$	4,146		$	4,603		$	—		$	—
Funded status (net amount recognized):	$	(1,322	)	$	(963	)	$	(38,616	)	$	(35,967	)

Schedule of Amounts Recorded on Consolidated Balance Sheet

The amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP as of August 29, 2020 and August 19, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Deferred tax assets	$	279		$	254		$	3,144		$	2,912
Accrued liabilities	$	1,322		$	963		$	38,616		$	35,967
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(819	)	$	(741	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

As of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the Company’s Pension Plans and SERP were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Net actuarial gain (loss)	$	(1,011	)	$	(549	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)
Unrecognized prior service cost		192			(192	)		—			—
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(819	)	$	(741	)	$	(9,234	)	$	(8,509	)

Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Projected Benefit Obligation

The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s projected benefit obligation as of August 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019, were as follows:

	Pension Plans						SERP
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Discount rate		2.0	%		2.7	%		2.5	%		2.9	%
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A				5.0	%		5.0	%

Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Service Cost

The weighted average assumptions used in calculating the Company’s net periodic service cost for the years ended August 29, 2020, August 31, 2019 and August 25, 2018, were as follows:

	Pension Plans									SERP
	2020			2019			2018			2020			2019			2018
Discount rate		2.7	%		3.8	%		3.2	%		2.9	%		4.0	%		3.6	%
Expected return on plan assets		3.5	%		3.5	%		3.5	%	N/A			N/A			N/A
Rate of compensation increase	N/A			N/A			N/A				5.0	%		5.0	%		5.0	%

Schedule of Expected Future Benefit Payments

	Pension Plans		SERP
2021	$	723	$	1,194
2022		214		1,363
2023		313		1,364
2024		307		1,560
2025		379		1,625
Thereafter		3,532		31,510
Total benefit payments	$	5,468	$	38,616

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes in Intangible Assets and Goodwill

These amounts include additional payments associated with prior year acquisitions:

Year ended	August 29, 2020		Weighted Average Life in Years		August 31, 2019		Weighted Average Life in Years
Goodwill	$	23,544	N/A		$	3,885	N/A
Customer contracts		12,697		14.1		1,070		10.0
Other intangible assets		594		5.3		118		3.0
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	$	36,835			$	5,073

Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of August 25, 2018	$	397,422
Goodwill recorded during the period		3,885
Other		(129	)
Balance as of August 31, 2019	$	401,178
Goodwill recorded during the period		23,544
Other		122
Balance as of August 29, 2020	$	424,844

Schedule of Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets, net in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):

	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
August 29, 2020
Customer contracts	$	234,065	$	177,119	$	56,946
Software		66,014		39,020		26,994
Other intangible assets		35,741		34,145		1,596
	$	335,820	$	250,284	$	85,536
August 31, 2019
Customer contracts	$	221,306	$	164,718	$	56,588
Software		48,838		34,813		14,025
Other intangible assets		35,063		32,956		2,107
	$	305,207	$	232,487	$	72,720

Schedule of Estimated Future Amortization Expense

Estimated amortization expense for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 29, 2020 and thereafter, based on intangible assets, net as of August 29, 2020 is as follows (in thousands):

2021	$	14,127
2022		12,573
2023		10,633
2024		9,367
2025		8,276
Thereafter		30,560
Total estimated amortization expense	$	85,536

Accrued Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet consists of the following (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Current liabilities:
Payroll and benefit related	$	46,789	$	36,634
Bonuses		13,803		14,288
Insurance related		34,403		31,778
Environmental related		11,172		9,785
Other		26,798		19,236
Total current liabilities	$	132,965	$	111,721
Long-term liabilities:
Benefit related	$	38,744	$	35,883
Environmental related		19,530		17,933
Asset retirement obligations		13,920		12,727
Insurance related		60,626		50,531
Total long-term liabilities	$	132,820	$	117,074
Total accrued liabilities	$	265,785	$	228,795

Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Rollforward of Asset Retirement Liability

A rollforward of the Company’s asset retirement liability is as follows for fiscal 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
Beginning balance	$	12,727	$	13,668
Accretion expense		929		865
Effect of exchange rate changes		264		(165	)
Change in estimate		—		(1,641	)
Ending balance	$	13,920	$	12,727

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Operating Lease Cost and Information Related to Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets, Net and Operating Lease Liabilities

(In thousands, except lease term and discount rate)
Lease cost
Operating lease costs including short-term lease expense and variable lease costs, which were immaterial in the period	$	18,125

Operating cash flow impacts
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	$	13,048
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$	7,407
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases	4.3
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		2.76	%

Schedule of Contractual Future Minimum Lease Payments of Operating Lease Liabilities

The contractual future minimum lease payments of the Company's operating lease liabilities by fiscal year are as follows as of August 29, 2020:

(In thousands)
2021	$	13,458
2022		10,581
2023		7,692
2024		5,314
2025		3,288
Thereafter		3,895
Total payments		44,228
Less interest		2,380
Total present value of lease payments	$	41,848

Schedule of Changes to Environmental Liabilities

The changes to the Company’s environmental liabilities for fiscal 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

Year ended	August 29, 2020			August 31, 2019
Beginning balance	$	27,718		$	25,486
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided		(1,160	)		(1,079	)
Insurance proceeds		111			143
Interest accretion		537			755
Changes in discount rates		1,133			2,239
Revisions in estimates		2,363			174
Ending balance	$	30,702		$	27,718

Schedule of Anticipated Payments and Insurance Proceeds of Currently Identified Environmental Remediation Liabilities

(In thousands)	2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			Thereafter			Total
Estimated costs—current dollars	$	11,368		$	2,668		$	1,371		$	1,073		$	1,076		$	11,852		$	29,408
Estimated insurance proceeds		(197	)		(159	)		(173	)		(159	)		(173	)		(521	)		(1,382	)
Net anticipated costs	$	11,171		$	2,509		$	1,198		$	914		$	903		$	11,331		$	28,026
Effect of inflation																				7,251
Effect of discounting																				(4,575	)
Balance as of August 29, 2020																			$	30,702

Share-based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Weighted Average Assumptions

The fair value of each stock appreciation right is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used:

Fiscal year ended August	2020			2019			2018
Risk-free interest rate		1.69	%		3.07	%		2.23	%
Expected dividend yield		0.50	%		0.48	%		0.18	%
Expected life in years		5.60			7.24			7.41
Expected volatility		22.4	%		22.9	%		23.1	%

Summary of Share-Based Award Activity for Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

The following table summarizes the Share-Based Awards activity in the form of stock options and stock appreciation rights for fiscal 2020:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, August 31, 2019		570,250		$	122.03
Granted		35,396			203.04
Exercised		(92,501	)		98.96
Forfeited		(18,212	)		121.83
Outstanding, August 29, 2020		494,933		$	132.14

Exercisable, August 29, 2020		150,099		$	113.69

Summary of Share-Based Award Activity for Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the Share-Based Awards activity in the form of restricted stock units for fiscal 2020:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Grant Price
Unvested balance at August 31, 2019		28,533		$	153.96
Granted		36,421			201.29
Vested		(6,434	)		156.99
Forfeited		(600	)		201.24
Unvested balance at August 29, 2020		57,920		$	183.90

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes in Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for fiscal 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in thousands):

	Foreign Currency Translation			Pension- related (1)			Derivative Financial Instruments (1)			Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of August 25, 2018	$	(21,116	)	$	(4,135	)	$	92		$	(25,159	)
Change during the year		(3,524	)		(5,104	)		99			(8,529	)
Balance as of August 31, 2019		(24,640	)		(9,239	)		191			(33,688	)
Change during the year		2,631			(787	)		(126	)		1,718
Balance as of August 29, 2020	$	(22,009	)	$	(10,026	)	$	65		$	(31,970	)

(1)	Amounts are shown net of tax.

Schedule of Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for fiscal 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended August 29, 2020		Year Ended August 31, 2019
Pension benefit liabilities, net:
Actuarial losses (a)	$	233	$	645
Tax effect reclass		—		—
Total, net of tax		233		645
Derivative financial instruments, net:
Forward contracts loss (gain) (b)		151		(153	)
Total, net of tax		151		(153	)
Total amounts reclassified, net of tax	$	384	$	492

(a)	Amounts included in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

(b)	Amounts included in revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Segment Reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information

As of and for the year ended August 29, 2020	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,552,179		$	214,683	$	(214,683	)	$	49,306		$	1,601,485		$	133,185	$	69,489	$	1,804,159
Income (loss) from operations	$	247,392		$	64,097	$	10,012		$	(171,514	)	$	149,987		$	17,845	$	4,897	$	172,729
Interest (income) expense, net	$	(3,741	)	$	—	$	—		$	(2,641	)	$	(6,382	)	$	—	$	—	$	(6,382	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	251,088		$	63,912	$	10,012		$	(170,629	)	$	154,383		$	18,604	$	4,901	$	177,888
Depreciation and amortization	$	71,020		$	2,404	$	—		$	24,983		$	98,407		$	4,335	$	1,955	$	104,697
Capital expenditures	$	110,024		$	397	$	—		$	—		$	110,421		$	4,864	$	1,432	$	116,717
Total assets	$	1,992,546		$	33,233	$	—		$	—		$	2,025,779		$	131,328	$	41,920	$	2,199,027

As of and for the year ended August 31, 2019	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,582,416		$	254,218	$	(254,111	)	$	33,682		$	1,616,205		$	132,767	$	60,404	$	1,809,376
Income (loss) from operations	$	235,046		$	84,248	$	1,128		$	(107,468	)	$	212,954		$	14,145	$	4,909	$	232,008
Interest income, net	$	(4,105	)	$	—	$	—		$	(4,977	)	$	(9,082	)	$	—	$	—	$	(9,082	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	239,122		$	84,008	$	1,128		$	(104,742	)	$	219,516		$	13,499	$	4,909	$	237,924
Depreciation and amortization	$	69,376		$	2,384	$	—		$	25,098		$	96,858		$	4,759	$	1,716	$	103,333
Capital expenditures	$	115,071		$	401	$	—		$	—		$	115,472		$	3,423	$	920	$	119,815
Total assets	$	1,865,713		$	36,376	$	—		$	—		$	1,902,089		$	110,335	$	34,896	$	2,047,320

As of and for the year ended August 25, 2018	US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning			MFG		Net Interco MFG Elim			Corporate			Subtotal Core Laundry Operations			Specialty Garments		First Aid		Total
Revenues	$	1,485,548		$	247,530	$	(247,424	)	$	37,994		$	1,523,648		$	118,477	$	54,364	$	1,696,489
Income (loss) from operations	$	213,322		$	89,035	$	(9,658	)	$	(129,111	)	$	163,588		$	14,070	$	4,718	$	182,376
Interest (income) expense, net	$	(3,927	)	$	—	$	—		$	(1,616	)	$	(5,543	)	$	—	$	—	$	(5,543	)
Income (loss) before taxes	$	217,252		$	88,856	$	(9,658	)	$	(127,510	)	$	168,940		$	13,589	$	4,717	$	187,246
Depreciation and amortization	$	64,481		$	2,238	$	—		$	24,108		$	90,827		$	4,244	$	1,591	$	96,662
Capital expenditures	$	105,481		$	2,882	$	—		$	—		$	108,363		$	3,781	$	603	$	112,747
Total assets	$	1,670,713		$	33,622	$	—		$	—		$	1,704,335		$	110,811	$	28,240	$	1,843,386

Schedule of Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets as of:	August 29, 2020		August 31, 2019
United States	$	1,177,107	$	1,087,901
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua (1)		52,586		45,628
Total	$	1,229,693	$	1,133,529

Schedule of Revenues and Income Before Income Taxes

Revenues for fiscal years:	2020		2019		2018
United States	$	1,659,913	$	1,683,321	$	1,559,780
Europe and Canada (1)		144,246		126,055		136,709
Total	$	1,804,159	$	1,809,376	$	1,696,489

Income before income taxes for fiscal years:	2020		2019		2018
United States	$	175,301	$	236,843	$	184,605
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua (1)		2,587		1,081		2,641
Total	$	177,888	$	237,924	$	187,246

(1)No country accounts for greater than 10% of total long-lived assets, revenues or income before income taxes

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information

This summary should be read in conjunction with these Consolidated Financial Statements and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(In thousands, except per share data) For the year ended August 29, 2020	First Quarter (1)		Second Quarter (2)		Third Quarter (3)		Fourth Quarter
Revenues	$	465,398	$	464,600	$	445,518	$	428,643
Income before income taxes		61,928		45,763		27,206		42,991
Provision for income taxes		13,686		11,083		5,921		11,428
Net income	$	48,242	$	34,680	$	21,285	$	31,563

Income per share—basic
Common Stock	$	2.65	$	1.90	$	1.17	$	1.74
Class B Common Stock	$	2.12	$	1.52	$	0.94	$	1.39

Income per share—diluted
Common Stock	$	2.52	$	1.82	$	1.12	$	1.66

Income allocated to—basic
Common Stock	$	40,526	$	29,129	$	17,871	$	26,499
Class B Common Stock	$	7,716	$	5,551	$	3,414	$	5,064

Income allocated to—diluted
Common Stock	$	48,242	$	34,680	$	21,285	$	31,563

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic
Common Stock		15,308		15,293		15,255		15,250
Class B Common Stock		3,643		3,643		3,643		3,643

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted
Common Stock		19,123		19,105		18,995		19,019

(1)	During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 50,600 shares for an average price per share of $197.11.

(2)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 20,500 shares for an average price per share of $206.34.

(3)	During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 46,667 shares for an average price per share of $161.65.

(In thousands, except per share data) For the year ended August 31, 2019	First Quarter		Second Quarter (1)		Third Quarter (2)		Fourth Quarter (3)
Revenues	$	438,550	$	437,485	$	453,720	$	479,621
Income before income taxes		51,959		63,395		61,700		60,870
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		13,639		15,789		14,480		14,882
Net income	$	38,320	$	47,606	$	47,220	$	45,988

Income per share—basic
Common Stock	$	2.08	$	2.59	$	2.58	$	2.52
Class B Common Stock	$	1.67	$	2.07	$	2.06	$	2.01

Income per share—diluted
Common Stock	$	1.99	$	2.48	$	2.46	$	2.40

Income allocated to—basic
Common Stock	$	32,137	$	39,923	$	39,563	$	38,619
Class B Common Stock	$	6,183	$	7,683	$	7,657	$	7,369

Income allocated to—diluted
Common Stock	$	38,320	$	47,606	$	47,220	$	45,988

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic
Common Stock		15,432		15,428		15,341		15,340
Class B Common Stock		3,710		3,710		3,710		3,659

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted
Common Stock		19,302		19,232		19,168		19,159

(1)

During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 45,000 shares for an average price per share of $139.57.

(2)

During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 99,500 shares for an average price per share of $147.47.

(3)

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 52,650 shares for an average price per share of $181.61.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($) segment shares	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares	Aug. 25, 2018 USD ($) shares
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments \| segment		5
Short-term investments		$ 0
Certificates of deposit			$ 4,900,000
Percentage of revenues derived from route servicing fees		89.90%
Current assets related to deferred commissions		$ 13,300,000	12,400,000
Noncurrent assets related to deferred commissions		55,600,000	50,300,000
Amortization expense related to deferred commissions		$ 13,700,000	11,800,000
Estimated service lives of rental merchandise, minimum		6 months
Estimated service lives of rental merchandise, maximum		36 months
Impairment of goodwill and definite-lived intangible assets		$ 0	0	$ 0
Weighted average useful life		12 years 1 month 6 days
Discount rate, lower range		0.70%
Discount range, upper range		1.50%
Inflation rate		3.00%
Advertising costs		$ 3,800,000	$ 3,600,000	$ 2,800,000
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share (in shares) \| shares		8,094	8,325	4,972
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		$ 42,710,000
Operating lease, liability		$ 41,848,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	$ 48,700,000
Operating lease, liability	46,200,000
Reductions of prepaid expenses	(1,200,000)
Reductions of other current assets	$ (1,300,000)
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date		Sep. 01, 2019
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted		true
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, immaterial effect		true
Conversion of Class B Common Stock in to Common Stock
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Conversion ratio		1
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expiration period		10 years
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Certain Share-based Awards Granted During Fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 to Non-employee Directors \| Non-Employee Directors
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expiration period		8 years
Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Discount period, lower range		10 years
Remaining lives		1 year
Credit adjusted risk-free rate		7.00%
Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Discount period, lower range		30 years
Remaining lives		25 years
Credit adjusted risk-free rate		7.50%
Customer contracts
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		13 years 8 months 12 days
Other intangible assets
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		8 years 9 months 18 days
Core Laundry Operations
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized over time		94.70%
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		5.30%
Specialty Garments
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized over time		79.20%
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		20.80%
First Aid
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues recognized at a point in time		100.00%

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Total Revenue Disaggregated by Service Type (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 428,643	$ 445,518	$ 464,600	$ 465,398	$ 479,621	$ 453,720	$ 437,485	$ 438,550	$ 1,804,159	$ 1,809,376	$ 1,696,489
Revenue \| Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Core Laundry Operations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 1,601,485	$ 1,616,205	$ 1,523,648
Core Laundry Operations \| Revenue \| Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues									88.80%	89.30%	89.80%
Specialty Garments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 133,185	$ 132,767	$ 118,477
Specialty Garments \| Revenue \| Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues									7.40%	7.30%	7.00%
First Aid
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 69,489	$ 60,404	$ 54,364
First Aid \| Revenue \| Revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues									3.90%	3.40%	3.20%

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Components of Inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 20,266	$ 23,000
Work in process	2,730	2,864
Finished goods	83,273	75,052
Total inventory	$ 106,269	$ 100,916

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Components of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,421,586	$ 1,346,579
Less: accumulated depreciation	839,116	772,070
Total property, plant and equipment	582,470	574,509
Land, Buildings and Leasehold Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	558,277	527,419
Machinery and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	585,211	565,319
Motor Vehicles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 278,098	$ 253,841

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020
Buildings \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	30 years
Buildings \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	40 years
Building Components \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Building Components \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	20 years
Leasehold Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Machinery and Equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Motor Vehicles \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Motor Vehicles \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Computation of Basic Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income available to shareholders	$ 31,563	$ 21,285	$ 34,680	$ 48,242	$ 45,988	$ 47,220	$ 47,606	$ 38,320	$ 135,770	$ 179,134	$ 163,895
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common stock									$ 135,770	$ 179,134	$ 163,895
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common stock (in shares)									18,919	19,082	19,811
Common Stock
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common stock	$ 26,499	$ 17,871	$ 29,129	$ 40,526	$ 38,619	$ 39,563	$ 39,923	$ 32,137	$ 114,017	$ 150,247	$ 133,802
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common stock (in shares)	15,250	15,255	15,293	15,308	15,340	15,341	15,428	15,432	15,276	15,385	15,454
Income per share for Basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.17	$ 1.90	$ 2.65	$ 2.52	$ 2.58	$ 2.59	$ 2.08	$ 7.46	$ 9.77	$ 8.66
Class B Common Stock
Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common stock	$ 5,064	$ 3,414	$ 5,551	$ 7,716	$ 7,369	$ 7,657	$ 7,683	$ 6,183	$ 21,753	$ 28,887	$ 30,093
Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common stock (in shares)	3,643	3,643	3,643	3,643	3,659	3,710	3,710	3,710	3,643	3,697	4,357
Income per share for Basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 0.94	$ 1.52	$ 2.12	$ 2.01	$ 2.06	$ 2.07	$ 1.67	$ 5.97	$ 7.81	$ 6.91

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Computation of Diluted Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
As reported—Basic									$ 135,770	$ 179,134	$ 163,895
As reported - Basic (in shares)									18,919	19,082	19,811
Common Stock									$ 135,770	$ 179,134	$ 163,895
Common stock (in shares)									19,042	19,196	19,963
Diluted Income Per Share – Common Stock (in dollars per share)									$ 7.13	$ 9.33	$ 8.21
Common Stock
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
As reported—Basic	$ 26,499	$ 17,871	$ 29,129	$ 40,526	$ 38,619	$ 39,563	$ 39,923	$ 32,137	$ 114,017	$ 150,247	$ 133,802
As reported - Basic (in shares)	15,250	15,255	15,293	15,308	15,340	15,341	15,428	15,432	15,276	15,385	15,454
As reported - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.17	$ 1.90	$ 2.65	$ 2.52	$ 2.58	$ 2.59	$ 2.08	$ 7.46	$ 9.77	$ 8.66
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Common Stock	$ 31,563	$ 21,285	$ 34,680	$ 48,242	$ 45,988	$ 47,220	$ 47,606	$ 38,320
Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares (in shares)									123	114	152
Common stock (in shares)	19,019	18,995	19,105	19,123	19,159	19,168	19,232	19,302
Diluted Income Per Share – Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.66	$ 1.12	$ 1.82	$ 2.52	$ 2.40	$ 2.46	$ 2.48	$ 1.99
Class B Common Stock
Earnings Per Share Diluted [Line Items]
As reported—Basic	$ 5,064	$ 3,414	$ 5,551	$ 7,716	$ 7,369	$ 7,657	$ 7,683	$ 6,183	$ 21,753	$ 28,887	$ 30,093
As reported - Basic (in shares)	3,643	3,643	3,643	3,643	3,659	3,710	3,710	3,710	3,643	3,697	4,357
As reported - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 0.94	$ 1.52	$ 2.12	$ 2.01	$ 2.06	$ 2.07	$ 1.67	$ 5.97	$ 7.81	$ 6.91

Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - Aggregate Information Relating to Acquisition of Businesses $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($) Business	Aug. 31, 2019 Business	Aug. 25, 2018 Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of business acquired \| Business		8	6	9
Business acquisitions, aggregate purchase price \| $	$ 38.8	$ 41.3

Acquisitions - Schedule of Acquisition of Business (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($) Business	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) Business	Aug. 25, 2018 USD ($) Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 424,844	$ 401,178	$ 397,422
Aggregate Information Relating to Acquisition of Businesses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired \| Business	8	6	9
Tangible assets acquired	$ 6,370	$ 322	$ 7,743
Goodwill	23,544	3,929	21,459
Customer contracts	12,697	1,344	11,751
Other intangible assets	594	118	900
Liabilities assumed	(1,872)		(95)
Acquisition of businesses	$ 41,333	$ 5,713	$ 41,758

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Assets or Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$ 196,478	$ 214,038
Pension plan assets	4,146	4,603
Foreign currency forward contracts	87	254
Total assets at fair value	200,711	218,895
Level 1
Assets:
Cash equivalents	196,478	214,038
Pension plan assets		0
Foreign currency forward contracts		0
Total assets at fair value	196,478	214,038
Level 2
Assets:
Cash equivalents		0
Pension plan assets	4,146	4,603
Foreign currency forward contracts	87	254
Total assets at fair value	$ 4,233	4,857
Level 3
Assets:
Cash equivalents		0
Pension plan assets		0
Foreign currency forward contracts		0
Total assets at fair value		$ 0

Amount of asset segregated and restricted to provide benefit under defined benefit plan. Asset includes, but is not limited to, stock, bond, other investment, earning from investment, and contribution by employer and employee.

Income Taxes - Provision / (Benefit) for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Current:
Federal									$ 40,084	$ 38,545	$ 23,815
Foreign									1,589	(200)	527
State									12,865	11,733	8,012
Total current									54,538	50,078	32,354
Deferred:
Federal									(8,522)	7,289	(11,517)
Foreign									(599)	645	363
State									(3,299)	778	2,151
Total deferred									(12,420)	8,712	(9,003)
Total	$ 11,428	$ 5,921	$ 11,083	$ 13,686	$ 14,882	$ 14,480	$ 15,789	$ 13,639	$ 42,118	$ 58,790	$ 23,351

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Provision for Income Taxes (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	25.90%
State income taxes	4.40%	4.30%	4.10%
Other	(1.70%)	(0.60%)	(2.80%)
Deemed Repatriation of Non—U.S. Earnings, net foreign tax credits and other (collectively, Transition Tax)	0	0	1.4
Impact of U.S. tax reform federal tax rate reduction			(16.10%)
Total	23.70%	24.70%	12.50%

Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Deferred Tax Assets
Payroll and benefit related	$ 17,451	$ 15,929
Insurance related	13,790	11,948
Environmental	7,856	7,093
Accrued expenses	6,270	2,164
Operating lease liabilities	8,720
Other	7,536	7,301
Total deferred tax assets	61,623	44,435
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Payroll and benefit related	17,722	16,056
Tax in excess of book depreciation	41,713	42,691
Purchased intangible assets	32,892	29,633
Rental merchandise in service	38,846	46,649
Operating lease right-of-use assets	8,952
Other	191	290
Total deferred tax liabilities	140,316	135,319
Net deferred tax liability	$ 78,693	$ 90,884

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 22, 2017	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate		21.00%	21.00%	25.90%
Provisional net benefit				$ 20,100
Effective income tax rate		23.70%	24.70%	12.50%
Tax benefit resulting from release of tax reserves		$ 2,100
Unrecognized tax benefits		6,330	$ 7,668	$ 2,198
Total unrecognized tax benefits		5,600	7,000
Accrued interest and penalties		$ 200	$ 200
Maximum
Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate	35.00%
Minimum
Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate	21.00%

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Reconciliation Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Excluding Amounts Pertaining To Examined Tax Returns Roll Forward
Beginning balance	$ 7,668	$ 2,198
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	475	329
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	(1,389)
Additions for tax positions of prior years		5,535
Statute expirations	(424)	(394)
Ending balance	$ 6,330	$ 7,668

Loans Payable and Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding loans payable	$ 0	$ 0
Outstanding letters of credit	70,800,000	$ 71,800,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 250,000,000.0
Maturity date	Apr. 11, 2021
Outstanding borrowings	$ 0
Outstanding letters of credit	70,800,000
Amount available for borrowing	$ 179,200,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Credit Agreement \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (as percent)	0.75%

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2020 CAD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 CAD ($) contract
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (31,970)		$ (33,688)
Canadian Dollars
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Average exchange rate				0.7814
Forward Contracts
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Notional value (CAD)		$ 5.0		$ 12.1
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	100
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss to revenue	200
Forward Contracts \| Canadian Dollars
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of derivatives entered into to exchange Canadian dollars for U.S. dollars \| contract				12
Forward Contracts \| Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair value of the contracts	$ 100

Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions charged to expense under the plan	$ 16.6	$ 19.7	$ 18.1
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Amounts charged to expense related to the plan	2.6	2.1	2.1
Accumulated benefit obligations	30.7	27.4
UniFirst Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Amounts charged to expense related to the plan	$ 0.2	0.3	0.3
Minimum annual interest rate	3.25%
Textilease Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Amounts charged to expense related to the plan	$ 0.0	0.5	$ 0.2
Minimum annual interest rate	1.50%
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Accumulated benefit obligations	$ 5.5	$ 5.6

Employee Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 113	$ 114	$ 115
Interest cost	131	260	257
Expected return on assets	(138)	(199)	(174)
Amortization of prior service cost	66	66	66
Amortization of unrecognized loss		51	102
Other events	12	503	96
Net periodic benefit cost	184	795	462
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	918	725	694
Interest cost	1,027	1,148	1,027
Expected return on assets		0	0
Amortization of prior service cost		0	0
Amortization of unrecognized loss	703	247	362
Other events		0	0
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 2,648	$ 2,120	$ 2,083

Employee Benefit Plans - Obligations and Funded Status (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Pension Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year	$ 5,566	$ 7,449
Service cost	113	114	$ 115
Interest cost	131	260	257
Actuarial loss	169	163
Benefits paid	(224)	(50)
Settlements	(287)	(2,370)
Projected benefit obligation, end of year	5,468	5,566	7,449
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	4,603	6,325
Actual return on plan assets	54	170
Employer contributions		528
Benefits paid	(224)	(50)
Settlements	(287)	(2,370)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	4,146	4,603	6,325
Funded status (net amount recognized):	(1,322)	(963)
SERP
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year	35,967	27,547
Service cost	918	725	694
Interest cost	1,027	1,148	1,027
Actuarial loss	1,658	7,456
Benefits paid	(954)	(909)
Settlements		0
Projected benefit obligation, end of year	38,616	35,967	27,547
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	0	0
Actual return on plan assets		0
Employer contributions		0
Benefits paid		0
Settlements		0
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		0	$ 0
Funded status (net amount recognized):	$ (38,616)	$ (35,967)

Employee Benefit Plans - Amounts Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets	$ 279	$ 254
Accrued liabilities	1,322	963
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(819)	(741)
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets	3,144	2,912
Accrued liabilities	38,616	35,967
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (9,234)	$ (8,509)

Amount of asset, recognized in statement of financial position, for overfunded defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.

AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]

Employee Benefit Plans - Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net actuarial gain (loss)	$ (1,011)	$ (549)
Unrecognized prior service cost	192	(192)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(819)	(741)
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net actuarial gain (loss)	(9,234)	(8,509)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (9,234)	$ (8,509)

Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Projected Benefit Obligation (Details)	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Discount rate	2.00%	2.70%
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Discount rate	2.50%	2.90%
Rate of compensation increase	5.00%	5.00%

Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Discount rate	2.70%	3.80%	3.20%
Expected return on plan assets	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Discount rate	2.90%	4.00%	3.60%
Rate of compensation increase	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%

Employee Benefit Plans - Expected Benefit Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
2021	$ 723
2022	214
2023	313
2024	307
2025	379
Thereafter	3,532
Total benefit payments	5,468	$ 5,566	$ 7,449
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
2021	1,194
2022	1,363
2023	1,364
2024	1,560
2025	1,625
Thereafter	31,510
Total benefit payments	$ 38,616	$ 35,967	$ 27,547

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Changes in Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 23,544	$ 3,885
Total intangible assets and goodwill acquired	36,835	5,073
Customer contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 12,697	$ 1,070
Weighted average life	14 years 1 month 6 days	10 years
Other intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 594	$ 118
Weighted average life	5 years 3 months 18 days	3 years

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment losses related to goodwill or intangible assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill	424,844,000	$ 401,178,000	$ 397,422,000
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	413,200,000
Specialty Garments
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	11,000,000.0
First Aid
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 600,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Beginning balance	$ 401,178	$ 397,422
Goodwill recorded during the period	23,544	3,885
Other	122	(129)
Ending balance	$ 424,844	$ 401,178

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Intangible Assets, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 335,820	$ 305,207
Accumulated Amortization	250,284	232,487
Net Carrying Amount	85,536	72,720
Customer contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	234,065	221,306
Accumulated Amortization	177,119	164,718
Net Carrying Amount	56,946	56,588
Software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	66,014	48,838
Accumulated Amortization	39,020	34,813
Net Carrying Amount	26,994	14,025
Other intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	35,741	35,063
Accumulated Amortization	34,145	32,956
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,596	$ 2,107

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Estimated Future Amortization Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2021	$ 14,127
2022	12,573
2023	10,633
2024	9,367
2025	8,276
Thereafter	30,560
Net Carrying Amount	$ 85,536	$ 72,720

Accrued Liabilities - Schedule of Accrued Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Current liabilities:
Payroll and benefit related	$ 46,789	$ 36,634
Bonuses	13,803	14,288
Insurance related	34,403	31,778
Environmental related	11,172	9,785
Other	26,798	19,236
Total current liabilities	132,965	111,721
Long-term liabilities:
Benefit related	38,744	35,883
Environmental related	19,530	17,933
Asset retirement obligations	13,920	12,727
Insurance related	60,626	50,531
Total long-term liabilities	132,820	117,074
Total accrued liabilities	$ 265,785	$ 228,795

Asset Retirement Obligations - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
Asset Retirement Obligations - Narrative (Details)	Aug. 29, 2020
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Estimated impact of inflation per year	3.00%
Credit adjusted risk free rates, minimum	7.00%
Credit adjusted risk free rates, maximum	7.50%
Minimum
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Remaining lives	1 year
Maximum
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Remaining lives	25 years

Asset Retirement Obligations - Rollforward of Asset Retirement Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 12,727	$ 13,668
Accretion expense	929	865	$ 935
Effect of exchange rate changes	264	(165)
Change in estimate		(1,641)
Ending balance	$ 13,920	$ 12,727	$ 13,668

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 23, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($) site company	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 26, 2017 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease, existence of option to extend		true
Operating lease, existence of option to terminate		true
Total rent expense on all leases		$ 15.2	$ 16.5	$ 14.8
Estimated rate of inflation		3.00%
Annual proceeds		$ 0.3
Number of sites related to former operations \| site		2
Balance in escrow account		$ 4.5
Number of insurance companies \| company		3
Pre-tax non-cash impairment charge					$ 55.8
Gain (loss) related to litigation settlement	$ 21.1	$ 21.1
One-time cash payment received for sale of CRM system	13.0	13.0
Hardware received at fair value	$ 0.8	0.8
Outstanding letters of credit		70.8	$ 71.8
Non-cancellable purchase commitments for inventories, software, and services		22.4
Non-cancellable purchase commitments to be paid in less than one year		19.0
Non-cancellable purchase commitments to be paid in one to three year		$ 3.2
Minimum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rates utilized		0.70%
Maximum
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rates utilized		1.50%

Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Operating Lease Cost and Information Related to Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets, Net and Operating Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($)
Lease cost
Operating lease costs including short-term lease expense and variable lease costs, which were immaterial in the period	$ 18,125
Operating cash flow impacts
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	13,048
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 7,407
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases	4 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	2.76%

Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Contractual Future Minimum Lease Payments of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2021	$ 13,458
2022	10,581
2023	7,692
2024	5,314
2025	3,288
Thereafter	3,895
Total payments	44,228
Less interest	2,380
Operating lease, liability	$ 41,848

Commitments and Contingencies - Changes to Environmental Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Roll Forward
Beginning balance	$ 27,718	$ 25,486
Costs incurred for which reserves have been provided	(1,160)	(1,079)
Insurance proceeds	111	143
Interest accretion	537	755	$ 692
Changes in discount rates	1,133	2,239
Revisions in estimates	2,363	174
Ending balance	$ 30,702	$ 27,718	$ 25,486

Commitments and Contingencies - Anticipated Payments and Insurance Proceeds of Identified Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Estimated costs—current dollars
2021	$ 11,368
2022	2,668
2023	1,371
2024	1,073
2025	1,076
Thereafter	11,852
Total	29,408
Estimated insurance proceeds
2021	(197)
2022	(159)
2023	(173)
2024	(159)
2025	(173)
Thereafter	(521)
Total	(1,382)
Net anticipated costs
2021	11,171
2022	2,509
2023	1,198
2024	914
2025	903
Thereafter	11,331
Total	28,026
Effect of inflation	7,251
Effect of discounting	(4,575)
Balance at end of period	$ 30,702	$ 27,718	$ 25,486

Share-based Compensation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2014	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018	Oct. 30, 2010	Nov. 30, 1996
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		5 years
Expiration period		10 years
Weighted average fair values of Share-Based Awards granted (in dollars per share)		$ 46.58	$ 46.20	$ 47.51
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Tranche One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		20.00%
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Tranche Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		60.00%
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Tranche Three
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		20.00%
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Cliff Vesting
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		5 years
Share-Based Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total compensation cost not yet recognized related to non-vested awards		$ 13.7
Period for recognition		2 years 2 months 12 days
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Tranche One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		20.00%
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		5 years
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Tranche Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		33.00%
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		3 years
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Tranche Three
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		5 years
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Cliff Vesting
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Period awards become fully vested or exercisable		5 years
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Tranche Four
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		60.00%
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units \| Tranche Five
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage vested after each anniversary of the grant date		20.00%
Non-Employee Directors \| Unrestricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares granted (in shares)		0	291	234
The 1996 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares reserved for issuance (in shares)						1,500,000
The 2010 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares reserved for issuance (in shares)					600,000
Number of additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	750,000
Shares available for future grants (in shares)		311,055
The 2010 Plan \| Non-Employee Directors \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares granted (in shares)		5,000	5,000	5,000

Share-based Compensation - Schedule of Weighted Average Assumptions (Details) - Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.69%	3.07%	2.23%
Expected dividend yield	0.50%	0.48%	0.18%
Expected life in years	5 years 7 months 6 days	7 years 2 months 26 days	7 years 4 months 28 days
Expected volatility	22.40%	22.90%	23.10%

Share-based Compensation - Summary of Share-Based Award Activity for Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020 $ / shares shares
Number of Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares) \| shares	570,250
Granted \| shares	35,396
Exercised \| shares	(92,501)
Forfeited \| shares	(18,212)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares) \| shares	494,933
Exercisable at end of period (in shares) \| shares	150,099
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 122.03
Granted \| $ / shares	203.04
Exercised \| $ / shares	98.96
Forfeited \| $ / shares	121.83
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	132.14
Exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 113.69

Share-based Compensation - Summary of Share-Based Award Activity for Restricted Stock Units (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020 $ / shares shares
Number of Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares) \| shares	28,533
Shares granted (in shares) \| shares	36,421
Vested \| shares	(6,434)
Forfeited \| shares	(600)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares) \| shares	57,920
Weighted Average Grant Price
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 153.96
Granted \| $ / shares	201.29
Vested \| $ / shares	156.99
Forfeited \| $ / shares	201.24
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 183.90

Shareholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions						3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Oct. 23, 2019 $ / shares	Oct. 22, 2019 $ / shares	Jan. 02, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 28, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 27, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	May 30, 2020 $ / shares shares	Feb. 29, 2020 $ / shares shares	Nov. 30, 2019 $ / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares	May 25, 2019 $ / shares shares	Feb. 23, 2019 $ / shares shares	Aug. 29, 2020 $ / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2019 vote $ / shares shares
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Shares repurchased (in shares)						46,667	20,500	50,600	52,650	99,500	45,000	118,000	197,150
Repurchase of common stock, value \| $			$ 100.0		$ 146.0
Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased \| $ / shares					$ 124.00	$ 161.65	$ 206.34	$ 197.11	$ 181.61	$ 147.47	$ 139.57	$ 184.67	$ 154.78
Common Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights \| vote													1
Dividend rate													125.00%
Shares repurchased (in shares)					73,000.000
Quarterly dividend amount (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.25	$ 0.1125		$ 0.1125	$ 0.0375
Class B Common Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights \| vote													10
Number of shares converted (in shares)													67,000
Shares repurchased (in shares)					1,105,000
Quarterly dividend amount (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.20	$ 0.09		$ 0.09	$ 0.03

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

Aug. 31, 2019

Aug. 25, 2018

$ 1,641,230

$ 1,464,967

$ 1,453,192

1,718

(8,529)

(3,641)

Foreign Currency Translation

1,741,129

1,641,230

1,464,967

AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]

(24,640)

(21,116)

2,631

(3,524)

(22,009)

(24,640)

(21,116)

^[1]

(9,239)

(4,135)

^[1]

(787)

(5,104)

Derivative Financial Instruments

^[1]

(10,026)

(9,239)

(4,135)

AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]

^[1]

191

^[1]

(126)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

^[1]

191

AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]

(33,688)

(25,159)

(21,518)

1,718

(8,529)

$ (31,970)

$ (33,688)

$ (25,159)

[1]	Amounts are shown net of tax.

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Aug. 29, 2020

May 30, 2020

Feb. 29, 2020

Nov. 30, 2019

Aug. 31, 2019

May 25, 2019

Feb. 23, 2019

Nov. 24, 2018

Aug. 29, 2020

Aug. 31, 2019

Aug. 25, 2018

Selling and administrative expenses

^[1]

$ 361,801

$ 334,840

$ 360,727

Provision for income taxes

$ 11,428

$ 5,921

$ 11,083

$ 13,686

$ 14,882

$ 14,480

$ 15,789

$ 13,639

42,118

58,790

23,351

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

$ 31,563

$ 21,285

$ 34,680

$ 48,242

$ 45,988

$ 47,220

$ 47,606

$ 38,320

135,770

179,134

$ 163,895

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Actuarial Losses | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

384

492

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Selling and administrative expenses

^[2]

233

645

Pension Benefit Liabilities, Net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Provision for income taxes

Derivative Financial Instruments | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

233

645

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Derivative Financial Instruments | Forward Contracts | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

151

(153)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]

Forward contracts loss (gain)

^[3]

$ 151

$ (153)

[1]	Exclusive of depreciation on the Company’s property, plant and equipment and amortization of its intangible assets.
[2]	Amounts included in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
[3]	Amounts included in revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Segment Reporting - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
Segment Reporting - Narrative (Details)	Aug. 29, 2020 segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	6
Number of reporting segments	5

Segment Reporting - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 428,643	$ 445,518	$ 464,600	$ 465,398	$ 479,621	$ 453,720	$ 437,485	$ 438,550	$ 1,804,159	$ 1,809,376	$ 1,696,489
Income (loss) from operations									172,729	232,008	182,376
Interest (income) expense, net									(6,382)	(9,082)	(5,543)
Income (loss) before taxes									177,888	237,924	187,246
Depreciation and amortization									104,697	103,333	96,662
Capital expenditures									116,717	119,815	112,747
Total assets	2,199,027				2,047,320				2,199,027	2,047,320	1,843,386
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,552,179	1,582,416	1,485,548
Income (loss) from operations									247,392	235,046	213,322
Interest (income) expense, net									(3,741)	(4,105)	(3,927)
Income (loss) before taxes									251,088	239,122	217,252
Depreciation and amortization									71,020	69,376	64,481
Capital expenditures									110,024	115,071	105,481
Total assets	1,992,546				1,865,713				1,992,546	1,865,713	1,670,713
MFG \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									214,683	254,218	247,530
Income (loss) from operations									64,097	84,248	89,035
Income (loss) before taxes									63,912	84,008	88,856
Depreciation and amortization									2,404	2,384	2,238
Capital expenditures									397	401	2,882
Total assets	33,233				36,376				33,233	36,376	33,622
MFG \| Net Interco MFG Elim
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(214,683)	(254,111)	(247,424)
Income (loss) from operations									10,012	1,128	(9,658)
Income (loss) before taxes									10,012	1,128	(9,658)
Corporate \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									49,306	33,682	37,994
Income (loss) from operations									(171,514)	(107,468)	(129,111)
Interest (income) expense, net									(2,641)	(4,977)	(1,616)
Income (loss) before taxes									(170,629)	(104,742)	(127,510)
Depreciation and amortization									24,983	25,098	24,108
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,601,485	1,616,205	1,523,648
Income (loss) from operations									149,987	212,954	163,588
Interest (income) expense, net									(6,382)	(9,082)	(5,543)
Income (loss) before taxes									154,383	219,516	168,940
Depreciation and amortization									98,407	96,858	90,827
Capital expenditures									110,421	115,472	108,363
Total assets	2,025,779				1,902,089				2,025,779	1,902,089	1,704,335
Specialty Garments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									133,185	132,767	118,477
Specialty Garments \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									133,185	132,767	118,477
Income (loss) from operations									17,845	14,145	14,070
Income (loss) before taxes									18,604	13,499	13,589
Depreciation and amortization									4,335	4,759	4,244
Capital expenditures									4,864	3,423	3,781
Total assets	131,328				110,335				131,328	110,335	110,811
First Aid
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									69,489	60,404	54,364
First Aid \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									69,489	60,404	54,364
Income (loss) from operations									4,897	4,909	4,718
Income (loss) before taxes									4,901	4,909	4,717
Depreciation and amortization									1,955	1,716	1,591
Capital expenditures									1,432	920	603
Total assets	$ 41,920				$ 34,896				$ 41,920	$ 34,896	$ 28,240

Segment Reporting - Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 1,229,693	$ 1,133,529
United States
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,177,107	1,087,901
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 52,586	$ 45,628

Segment Reporting - Revenues and Income Before Income Taxes by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 25, 2019	Feb. 23, 2019	Nov. 24, 2018	Aug. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 428,643	$ 445,518	$ 464,600	$ 465,398	$ 479,621	$ 453,720	$ 437,485	$ 438,550	$ 1,804,159	$ 1,809,376	$ 1,696,489
Income before income taxes									177,888	237,924	187,246
United States
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues									1,659,913	1,683,321	1,559,780
Income before income taxes									175,301	236,843	184,605
Europe, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Income before income taxes									2,587	1,081	2,641
Europe and Canada
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 144,246	$ 126,055	$ 136,709