Note 15 - Segment Reporting (Details) - Segment Reporting - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2015	May. 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014	Aug. 30, 2014	May. 31, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 29, 2015	Aug. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 359,208	$ 365,574	$ 361,462	$ 370,361	$ 351,988	$ 352,238	$ 343,967	$ 346,704	$ 1,456,605	$ 1,394,897	$ 1,355,515
Income (loss) from operations									200,384	193,275	186,203
Interest (income) expense, net									(2,437)	(2,359)	(1,550)
Income (loss) before taxes	46,215	$ 52,843	$ 41,376	$ 60,834	47,657	$ 50,114	$ 41,224	$ 56,356	201,268	195,351	187,609
Depreciation and amortization									77,113	71,752	69,607
Capital expenditures									101,163	91,808	103,526
Total assets	1,533,237				1,424,161				1,533,237	1,424,161	1,374,862
U.S. And Canadian Rental And Cleaning [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,305,240	1,244,408	1,200,286
Income (loss) from operations									219,430	209,497	200,852
Interest (income) expense, net									(3,189)	(3,077)	(2,944)
Income (loss) before taxes									222,657	212,551	203,798
Depreciation and amortization									53,811	49,116	46,793
Capital expenditures									93,842	86,430	97,519
Total assets	1,401,346				1,286,984				1,401,346	1,286,984	1,241,924
MFG [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									192,188	183,340	170,867
Income (loss) from operations									66,190	63,675	61,896
Income (loss) before taxes									66,355	63,540	61,749
Depreciation and amortization									1,536	1,306	1,033
Capital expenditures									2,618	2,264	3,559
Total assets	34,075				38,066				34,075	38,066	31,781
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(192,188)	(183,340)	(170,867)
Income (loss) from operations									(733)	(3,777)	(9,729)
Income (loss) before taxes									(733)	(3,777)	(9,729)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									17,088	15,077	14,079
Income (loss) from operations									(97,301)	(87,145)	(82,357)
Interest (income) expense, net									752	718	1,394
Income (loss) before taxes									(98,418)	(87,897)	(83,783)
Depreciation and amortization									16,393	15,751	15,296
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,322,328	1,259,485	1,214,365
Income (loss) from operations									187,586	182,250	170,662
Interest (income) expense, net									(2,437)	(2,359)	(1,550)
Income (loss) before taxes									189,861	184,417	172,035
Depreciation and amortization									71,740	66,173	63,122
Capital expenditures									96,460	88,694	101,078
Total assets	1,435,421				1,325,050				1,435,421	1,325,050	1,273,705
Specialty Garments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									87,513	91,484	96,688
Income (loss) from operations									7,355	7,178	10,539
Income (loss) before taxes									5,964	7,087	10,572
Depreciation and amortization									4,331	4,646	5,114
Capital expenditures									3,820	1,847	1,962
Total assets	74,449				77,037				74,449	77,037	79,640
First Aid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									46,764	43,928	44,462
Income (loss) from operations									5,443	3,847	5,002
Income (loss) before taxes									5,443	3,847	5,002
Depreciation and amortization									1,042	933	1,371
Capital expenditures									883	1,267	486
Total assets	$ 23,367				$ 22,074				$ 23,367	$ 22,074	$ 21,517