For businesses that care about their people and their impact, we’re by your side helping you achieve your best, every day – across workwear and apparel, facilities, first aid & safety, fire protection and beyond.

And working together for even greater impact: safer, cleaner, efficient, better designed, more sustainable and inclusive.

With the operational, service and delivery excellence to help you run even better.

in the last 50 years

1973

C-I-N-T-A-S

After an advertising agency fails to deliver a new name to take the company into the future, Dick Farmer, Bob Kohlhepp and marketing partner Nick Curtis doodle the name C-I-N-T-A-S on a napkin.

New corporate headquarters and distribution center in Blue Ash, Ohio, completed in July 1974.

1979
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE
The company officially defines our Principal Objective — to maximize the long-term value of shareholders and working partners by exceeding our customers’ expectations. Bob Kohlhepp becomes Executive Vice President and is appointed to the board.
1980
Looking to expand operations in strategic markets, Cintas acquires our largest acquisition to date—Industrial Towel and Uniform in Houston, Texas.
1981
The Management Trainee (MT) Program is formed to recruit and train future managers. One of the first seven MTs is Scott Farmer (Doc’s great-grandson).
1984
PUBLIC TRADED
Cintas becomes publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Right: The original public company board in 1984.
1985
Purolator is signed as the first National Account and Bob Kohlhepp becomes Cintas’ President and COO.
1988
The popular Advantage Shirt is introduced and Cintas’ National Rental Program is launched when Chemlawn and Safety Kleen sign up.
1990
Scott Farmer is named Vice President of Marketing & Merchandising.
1991
The first catalog is produced by the Marketing Department under Scott Farmer’s direction. Catalog sales quickly exceed $130 million a year.
1992
Always striving to pro-actively provide our customers with products and services they need, Cintas expands the floor mat product line in our Cincinnati-based operation. This begins our Facility Services initiative.
1993
Cintas enters the Cleanroom market with the purchase of Maryatt Industries. The first logo mats are introduced in Cincinnati.
1994
The Proknit™ rental shirt and Comfort Fabric pleated pants are added to the product line.
1995
MATURING AS A COMPANY
Expanding outside the United States for the first time, Cintas acquires Cadet Uniform Services Ltd. in Canada.
1996
Bob Kohlhepp becomes CEO while Dick Farmer becomes Chairman of the Board. Cintas expands Facilities Services Initiative at a national level.
Bob Kohlhepp
1997
Begin testing barcode technology to help identify garments. American First Aid is acquired, launching Cintas into the First Aid & Safety business.
1998
Annual revenues reach $1 billion and Scott Farmer becomes President and COO. Cintas enters into a joint venture with Millennium Mats. Uniforms To You is acquired, expanding our direct sale uniform capabilities.
1999
Cintas achieves 30 years of uninterrupted growth in sales and profit and acquires Unitog Co. to become North America’s largest Uniform Rental Company.
2000
Cintas introduces Xpect® brand first aid products, stocking customer first aid cabinets with value-priced brand name products.
2001
Cintas surpasses $2 billion in annual revenue and is added to the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. The Safety Director® product line is introduced in First Aid & Safety.
2002
First Aid & Safety partners with the American Heart Association, making Cintas the largest provider of CPR, AED and First Aid training. The division reaches $100 million in revenue. Cintas presides over NASDAQ market opening ceremony and we enter Restroom Supply Services with the purchase of Omni Services, Inc.
2003
The company enters the Fire Protection business with the acquisition of Kamp Fire and the Document Management business with the acquisition of Smartshred. Cintas starts offering Promotional Products. “Sanis by Cintas” hygiene products are introduced.
2004
Cintas expands into Document Storage with the acquisition of Data Storage Center. Bob Kohlhepp becomes Vice Chairman and Scott Farmer becomes CEO.
Scott Farmer
2005
“The Service Professionals” becomes the new corporate tagline, while Cintas reaches $3 billion in annual revenue. Sanis Ultraclean® and the ReviveR® AED (Automated External Defibrillator) are introduced.
2006
First Aid & Safety introduces Training & Compliance solutions.
2007
Dick Farmer, Founder and Chairman, celebrates 50 years with Cintas. Cintas changes the wording of our principle objective to list our customer first to ensure they are always top of mind. Safewasher Parts Cleaning Services is introduced to the Facility Services product line.
Cintas Safewasher
2008
GOING INTERNATIONAL
Acquiring Certo Information Management enables Cintas to enter the Document Imaging business. Cintas begins selling uniforms in Hong Kong and Macau while the cargo pant is introduced in North America.
2009
Dick Farmer becomes Chairman Emeritus and Bob Kohlhepp is elected as Chairman of the Board. Cintas is the first Uniform Rental Company to offer uniform rental pants designed for women.
2010
Cintas enters an exclusive partnership with Carhartt® to provide the first ever Carhartt rental uniforms.
2011
Cintas enters a strategic partnership with Diversey, Inc. to deliver a Cleaning Chemical Service. The company acquires three very different business opportunities — Cleanway Industries, Chemtron and Metro Door.
2012
Cintas surpasses $4 billion in annual revenue. Cintas provides additional value to customers by introducing VIP Fire Protection. A partnership with Rubbermaid® is established to provide industry-leading Facility Services products.
2013
Cintas serves our One-Millionth Customer! New products introduced: Performance Polo, Carhartt® Flame Resistant Clothing, Signature Series® Restroom Dispensers and Safety Center cabinets. The acquisition of DunnWell provides a national Fire Protection footprint.
2014
Cintas and Shred-It merge Document Shredding businesses, with Cintas retaining 42% ownership. This newly formed joint venture operates under the name Shred-it.
2015
Cintas rolls out new SSR uniforms and fully exits the Document Management business.
2016
Ready for the Workday® becomes the new corporate tagline in conjunction with the launch of our first national radio and TV advertising campaign. Cintas acquires ZEE Medical and establishes a partnership with Chef Works®.
2017
Cintas makes its largest acquisition to date, G&K Services, increasing rental revenue by 25% as the company’s annual revenue passes $5 billion. Board Chair and past CEO, Bob Kohlhepp retires after nearly 50 years and Scott Farmer is elected Chairman of the Board.
2018
Cintas passes $6 billion in annual revenue and launches WaterBreak®.
2019
Cintas is named to the Fortune 500 for the first time, launches the Cintas Partner Assistance Fund and surpasses 100 Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certified locations. Todd Schneider is promoted to EVP & COO; Michael Thompson is appointed EVP & CAO and Mike Hansen is appointed EVP & CFO. Founder and Chairman Emeritus Dick Farmer retires after 62 years. Celebrating the 35TH anniversary of IPO.
2020
Cintas is presented five national awards, including Fortune 500, and announces a national partnership with the American Diabetes Association® (ADA).
2021
To help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Cintas launches the Total Clean Program, divests of the Tile and Carpet business and sells operations in China.
2022
Scott Farmer retires as CEO and continues as Executive Chairman. Todd Schneider becomes President & CEO. Surrounded by his beloved family, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dick Farmer, dies at 86 years old.