Note 14 - Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 27, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015		Feb. 27, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning [Member]
Revenues	$ 326,101	$ 327,950		$ 655,881	$ 658,851
Income (loss) from operations	43,117	51,691		99,843	114,990
Interest (income) expense, net	(818)	(901)		(1,562)	(1,671)
Income (loss) before taxes	43,948	52,605		101,441	116,689
MFG [Member]
Revenues	42,436	50,844		88,251	102,672
Income (loss) from operations	$ 14,051	$ 17,003		$ 30,595	$ 35,234
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 14,098	$ 17,054		$ 30,634	$ 35,326
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Revenues	(42,436)	(50,844)		(88,251)	(102,672)
Income (loss) from operations	$ 1,752	$ (443)		$ 1,701	$ (2,132)
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 1,752	$ (443)		$ 1,701	$ (2,132)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Revenues	5,264	4,118		10,521	9,064
Income (loss) from operations	(22,791)	(27,327)	[1]	(43,038)	(50,295)	[1]
Interest (income) expense, net	144	196		345	350
Income (loss) before taxes	(23,040)	(27,654)		(43,618)	(50,901)
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Revenues	331,365	332,068		666,402	667,915
Income (loss) from operations	36,129	40,924		89,101	97,797
Interest (income) expense, net	(674)	(705)		(1,217)	(1,321)
Income (loss) before taxes	36,758	41,562		90,158	98,982
Specialty Garments [Member]
Revenues	20,451	18,661		47,221	41,137
Income (loss) from operations	$ 1,146	$ (435)		$ 5,432	$ 1,833
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 1,323	$ (1,248)		$ 5,245	$ 718
First Aid [Member]
Revenues	11,281	10,733		22,858	22,771
Income (loss) from operations	$ 918	$ 1,062		$ 1,954	$ 2,510
Interest (income) expense, net
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 918	$ 1,062		$ 1,954	$ 2,510
Revenues	363,097	361,462		736,481	731,823
Income (loss) from operations	38,193	41,551		96,487	102,140
Interest (income) expense, net	(674)	(705)		(1,217)	(1,321)
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 38,999	$ 41,376		$ 97,357	$ 102,210

[1] The Company increased its environmental contingency reserves during its second fiscal quarter of 2015 by $3.6 million. This increase was due mainly 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. To a lesser extent, the Company’s reserves also were increased due to the effect of lower interest rates on the discounting of its environmental liabilities.