National News - May 2005

Aramark Uniform Services Acquires Majority of Associated Textile Rental Service’s Uniform Rental Business

Burbank, CA, April 26, 2005 (Company Release) – Aramark Uniform Services, a leading provider of uniform and career apparel, has acquired approximately 90 percent of Associated Textile Rental Service’s uniform rental business. Associated Textile continues to provide textile rental and laundry services for the linen and hospitality market.

Headquartered in Rochester , NY , Associated Textile Rental Service rents, leases and sells uniforms, career wear and linens to businesses throughout upstate New York . The acquisition includes rental services for uniforms and allied products, including mats, mops and shop towels. Aramark anticipates that the acquisition will add approximately $5.5 million to its annual revenue.

The acquisition, which was completed on January 31, 2005 , brings approximately 1,000 new business customers to Aramark Uniform Services.

“Like Aramark, Associated Textile Rental Services has long been well regarded for its superior customer service and inventory control systems,” said Stephen Donly, president of Aramark Uniform Services. “This acquisition further strengthens Aramark’s ability to deliver a high level of customer care to businesses in Rochester and surrounding regions.”

Aramark Uniform Services is a leading supplier of uniforms and career apparel, providing rental, purchase and lease programs to over 1.5 million people at more than 400,000 businesses. It is a division of Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Inc., a subsidiary of Aramark Corporation.

For further information, visit www.aramark.com

Superior Uniform Group Reports First Quarter Earnings

Seminole, FL, April 22, 2005(PRNewswire-FirstCall) - Michael Benstock, Chief Executive Officer of Superior Uniform Group, Inc, manufacturer of uniforms, career apparel and accessories, today announced that for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, sales were $31,857,089 compared with 2004 first quarter sales of $33,765,220. Net earnings were $139,443 or $.02 per share (diluted) compared to 2004 first quarter earnings of $1,130,468 or $.15 per share (diluted).

In making the earnings announcement, Mr. Benstock stated: "Our revenues and earnings were significantly affected by the January implementation of our new warehouse management system. Revenues were down approximately $1.9 million or 6% as compared to the first quarter of 2004. During the latter half of January and through the month of February, we experienced significant difficulty in shipping customer orders. As a result, sales for the first two months of the quarter were down approximately $2.8 million. We continue to improve the operating efficiency of the system and were able to make up approximately $900,000 in revenues during the month of March as compared to the prior-year month. Our backlog of open orders at the end of the first quarter was approximately $7.5 million as compared to $6.0 million for the same period last year. Earnings were significantly impacted as a result of the decline in revenues and as a result of approximately $375,000 of increased overtime required to process orders during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 . While the system is not yet operating at peak performance levels, we are seeing decreases in the overtime requirements and increasing revenue levels."

Superior Uniform Group, through its Signature marketing brands -- Fashion Seal®, Fashion Seal Healthcare™, Martin's®, Worklon®, Sope Creek® and UniVogue™ -- manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, corporate I.D., career apparel and accessories for the hospital and healthcare fields; hotels; fast food and other restaurants; and public safety, industrial, transportation and commercial markets, as well as corporate and resort embroidered sportswear.

Kanawha County Bus Drivers to Get Uniforms

Charleston , WV , April 22, 2005 (Daily Mail) - Kanawha County school bus drivers will be easily recognized next year when they are required to wear uniforms.

The Kanawha County school board approved the policy change at a meeting Thursday night.

Several drivers attended in uniforms, including navy pants and a lighter blue oxford shirt with a bus insignia, and spoke in support of the measure. However, others asked for more time to choose uniforms they believe would be more comfortable and flattering.

Tami Albu, president of the West Virginia Education Association Educational Support Professionals, presented several comments made by members of her group. Some called the uniforms unattractive, uncomfortable and geared to thin people. Others said the uniform committee was composed of people who favored the uniforms.

But George Beckett, Kanawha County Schools administrative assistant for transportation, said the selection process was fair. He said the selection committee included union members as well as representatives from all bus terminals. "We can't please everyone, but this is not a George Beckett policy," he said.

Bus driver Steve Carpenter said, "I take pride in my job. I am pleased with the uniform." He said a uniform increases safety for children when drivers are easily recognized.

The uniforms will cost the school system about $30,000, with 80 percent of funding from the state and 20 percent from the county, Beckett said. The move toward uniforms is now in the second year with 102 of the county's 203 regular employees already wearing them. By next school year, they will be required.

Cherokee Uniforms Sponsors Award Honoring Healthcare Professionals

Los Angeles , CA , April 28, 2005 (PRNewswire) -- In conjunction with National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week, Cherokee Uniforms announced that nominations for the 2005 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award are now being accepted.

In its third year, the award is one of the nation's premier nurse and healthcare honors. It invites the nation to nominate nurses and other non-physician healthcare professionals for exceptional service, sacrifice and innovation through July 31, 2005 . The Inspired Comfort Award has propelled some past winners from virtual anonymity to being featured in major metropolitan newspapers, the nightly news and even Reader's Digest.

"The Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award was established to raise awareness of the immense dedication, compassion and skill that nurses and other non-physician healthcare professionals demonstrate every day to better the lives of others," said Michael Singer, president and CEO of Cherokee Uniforms, the nation's leading designer and manufacturer of healthcare apparel. "While our nation is experiencing a dramatic shortage of healthcare professionals, we hope that the inspirational stories from this award will encourage those currently serving patients and will inspire more of our best and brightest minds to join these vital professions."

Cherokee Uniforms will donate $1 for every healthcare professional who is nominated for the award through July 31, 2005, to Nurses House, a national fund that provides short-term financial assistance to registered nurses facing serious hardship.*

"It's easy to forget that nurses are human and that sometimes they need to be rescued from life's devastating circumstances," Singer said. "Nurses House offers nurses who are in pain and suffering a helping hand and a warm heart in their hour of need."

The grand prizewinner in each category will receive an all-expense-paid Caribbean cruise for two. Additionally, the individuals who nominate the grand prizewinner in each category will receive a Cherokee medical wardrobe and a donation of $500 to the nonprofit organization of their choice. Nominations are due by July 31, 2005 . Winners will be announced in November 2005.

For more information, visit www.CherokeeUniforms.com .

Seattle Fire Department Awards PPE Contract to Lion Apparel

Dayton OH , April 11, 2005 (EWORLDWIRE) --- The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) awarded a $1.4 million agreement for the supply of fire fighter personal protective equipment to Dayton, Ohio-based Lion Apparel and Washington-based SeaWestern Fire Equipment (SFD). The agreement began in 2004 with an initial order of more than 1,000 Paul Conway™ brand traditional-style composite helmets from Lion Apparel followed by an order of 1,016 sets of Janesville® brand turnout gear placed with Sea Western in March 2005. Additional purchases will follow as part of a department-wide image shift to a traditional look with modern protection.

The agreement followed a 24-month evaluation process: a physical wear test, technical evaluation and pre-production specification development.

"The central issues in comparing competing firefighter protective ensembles is how each handles water vapor and moisture from sweat; the retention of body heat; the fit of the garment; and the weight of the garment," said SFD Assistant chief of support services, William T. Hepburn.

The Janesville® ensemble employs Lion's exclusive isodri® technology that resists water absorption. The gear retains a lighter working weight during structural fire fighting and reduces potential for steam burns.

"SeaWestern's philosophy of 'service after the sale' caused them to be the cement in developing a strong partnership," Hepburn added.

SeaWestern is a full-service distributor of nationally recognized brands of fire fighter protective clothing, equipment and fire apparatus. Serving the West Coast since 1977, SeaWestern also provides cleaning and repair services on firefighter equipment.

The Seattle Fire Department was in a position where they needed to replace aging gear in the field and accumulate a reserve inventory. Lion Apparel and SeaWestern formed several teams that blanketed the city and measured most of the firefighters in only four days. The entire initial order is being manufactured now and will be delivered very quickly, by June 1.

"This is an excellent example how dynamic groups -- department firefighters and officers, a dealer and a manufacturer -- collaborate to deliver solutions," said Jerry Loran, Lion Apparel regional sales manager. "Teamwork and a commitment to safety fueled our operational excellence."

Seattle transformed its initial desire - of wanting to be more traditional - into a process of educating the department about advances in metabolic stress reduction, comfort and durability. SFD achieved its new, traditional look with the Paul Conway™ American Classic™ helmet and the Janesville® isodri® turnouts.

"Fire departments benefit when they recognize their PPE selection process demands as much investigation as specifying a new ladder truck and then work to develop their own set of performance specifications," Loran added.

The outer shell is made from a powerful blend of PBI® fortified with a matrix of 600 Denier DuPont Kevlar® from Safety Components Technologies Inc. The liner is made from W.L. Gore CROSSTECH® moisture barrier and Teflon®-treated 2-layer AraFlo® with a Glide™ II facecloth for maximum breathability, wickability, moisture resistance and lubricity. In addition to Lion Apparel's isodri® moisture management system, other special features include Lion's exclusive Ventilated trim, Firefighter Recovery Harness and Semper Dri™, a low wicking fabric positioned at the bottom of the pant thermal liner that prevents excess water gain.

Seattle Fire Department employs 1016 career firefighters operating out of 34 stations. The department provides greater Seattle with a full range of critical services such as fire fighting, building inspections, fire code enforcement, tactical rescues and public education, along with a marine fire operation.

Lion Apparel Inc. is a 106-year-old, privately held global company based in Dayton , Ohio . Through offices in the United States , Canada , United Kingdom , Germany , France , Italy and Australia , Lion serves the uniform and personal protective equipment (PPE) and logistics requirements of police and fire departments, civilian government agencies, emergency services and military organizations around the world. Each and every day, Lion fulfills the personal safety, readiness and identity needs of its customers around the world.

For further information, visit www.lionapparel.com