BIO Brings UniFirst Uniform Services to BIO Members

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2016) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has announced a new partnership with UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), an industry leader in the supply and servicing of uniforms, workwear, and facility products, to add managed uniform, protective clothing, and custom corporate image apparel programs to the BIO Business Solutions® offerings. As a supplier partner, UniFirst is now part of BIO’s exclusive Business Solutions ® program which is helping thousands of companies save on items they need to run a successful biotechnology enterprise.

The UniFirst program available to BIO and select state and regional life science associations’ members offers a wide selection of uniforms, lab coats, and other clothing items for rental programs or for direct purchase. UniFirst rental programs outfit members’ employees in the work clothing of choice, provide scheduled pickups and deliveries, and handle hygienic cleanings, garment repairs, and replacements. Similar rental programs are also in place for facility service products and microfiber cleaning supplies.

The UniFirst partnership will also extend to program offerings from UniClean, a wholly-owned division of UniFirst that has the depth and breadth to be a single-source provider for specialized cleanroom and controlled environment garment-related needs.

“BIO members require a wide range of workwear and products for their facilities, but finding the right provider at the right value can be difficult,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “By teaming up with UniFirst, we’re able to offer high-quality products and services that will meet our members’ needs at reduced rates.”

BIO Business Solutions negotiates significant volume-based discounts, competitive terms, and other benefits on products and services with industry leading suppliers on behalf of its members and members of state and regional biotech associations. Through the BIO Business Solutions program, more than 2,900 companies saved more than $161 million last year.

By selecting UniFirst as a contracted supplier, members will benefit from the company's coast-to-coast servicing capabilities, its understanding of the need for biotech facilities to reduce costs while maintaining quality, and its ongoing commitment to total customer satisfaction.

UniFirst president and CEO Ronald Croatti said, “UniFirst is committed to meeting the business needs of the growing life science industry and partnering with BIO is a testament to this. BIO and all of its partners help large and small businesses within the biotech community lower supply spends, improve uniform program services, and gain access to industry best practices through the spirit of collaborative purchasing power.”

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