Note 14 - Segment Reporting (Details) - Segment Reporting - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May. 30, 2015	May. 31, 2014	May. 30, 2015		May. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 365,574	$ 352,238	$ 1,097,397		$ 1,042,909
Income (loss) from operations	52,352	49,489	154,492		145,853
Interest (income) expense, net	(563)	(664)	(1,884)		(1,882)
Income (loss) before taxes	52,843	50,114	155,053		147,694
U.S. And Canadian Rental And Cleaning [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	323,584	309,409	982,435		927,193
Income (loss) from operations	53,537	50,124	168,527		155,277
Interest (income) expense, net	(785)	(753)	(2,456)		(2,348)
Income (loss) before taxes	54,344	50,872	171,033		157,599
MFG [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	46,997	46,401	149,669		132,735
Income (loss) from operations	16,984	16,509	52,218		46,382
Income (loss) before taxes	17,015	16,477	52,341		46,240
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(46,997)	(46,401)	(149,669)		(132,735)
Income (loss) from operations	(431)	(1,332)	(2,563)		(2,234)
Income (loss) before taxes	(431)	(1,332)	(2,563)		(2,234)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,186	3,896	13,250		11,299
Income (loss) from operations	(23,156)	(20,803)	(73,451)	[1]	(63,112)
Interest (income) expense, net	222	89	572		466
Income (loss) before taxes	(23,413)	(20,862)	(74,314)		(63,597)
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	327,770	313,305	995,685		938,492
Income (loss) from operations	46,934	44,498	144,731		136,313
Interest (income) expense, net	(563)	(664)	(1,884)		(1,882)
Income (loss) before taxes	47,515	45,155	146,497		138,008
Specialty Garments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	25,854	27,619	66,991		72,468
Income (loss) from operations	4,032	3,992	5,865		7,063
Income (loss) before taxes	3,942	3,960	4,660		7,209
First Aid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	11,950	11,314	34,721		31,949
Income (loss) from operations	1,386	999	3,896		2,477
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 1,386	$ 999	$ 3,896		$ 2,477

[1] The Company increased its environmental contingency reserves during the thirty-nine weeks ended May 30, 2015 by $3.4 million. This increase was due to additional costs the Company expects to incur associated with the construction of a planned municipal transit station in the area of its Somerville site as well as the impact of lower interest rates in calculating the net present value of its anticipated future environmental liabilities.