Note 14 - Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015	May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015
US and Canadian Rental and Cleaning [Member]
Revenues	$ 325,822,000	$ 323,584,000	$ 981,703,000	$ 982,435,000
Income (loss) from operations	49,653,000	53,537,000	149,496,000	168,527,000
Interest (income) expense, net	(857,000)	(785,000)	(2,419,000)	(2,456,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	50,507,000	54,344,000	151,948,000	171,033,000
MFG [Member]
Revenues	49,482,000	46,997,000	137,733,000	149,669,000
Income (loss) from operations	18,633,000	16,984,000	49,228,000	52,218,000
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	18,609,000	17,015,000	49,243,000	52,341,000
Net Interco MFG Elimination [Member]
Revenues	(49,482,000)	(46,997,000)	(137,733,000)	(149,669,000)
Income (loss) from operations	(1,746,000)	(431,000)	(45,000)	(2,563,000)
Interest (income) expense, net	0			0
Income (loss) before taxes	(1,746,000)	(431,000)	(45,000)	(2,563,000)
Corporate Segment [Member]
Revenues	5,402,000	4,186,000	15,923,000	13,250,000
Income (loss) from operations	(23,756,000)	(23,156,000)	(66,794,000)	(73,451,000)	[1]
Interest (income) expense, net	166,000	222,000	511,000	572,000
Income (loss) before taxes	(23,915,000)	(23,413,000)	(67,533,000)	(74,314,000)
Subtotal Core Laundry Operations [Member]
Revenues	331,224,000	327,770,000	997,626,000	995,685,000
Income (loss) from operations	42,784,000	46,934,000	131,885,000	144,731,000
Interest (income) expense, net	(691,000)	(563,000)	(1,908,000)	(1,884,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	43,455,000	47,515,000	133,613,000	146,497,000
Specialty Garments [Member]
Revenues	24,081,000	25,854,000	71,302,000	66,991,000
Income (loss) from operations	3,559,000	4,032,000	8,991,000	5,865,000
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	3,670,000	3,942,000	8,915,000	4,660,000
First Aid [Member]
Revenues	12,494,000	11,950,000	35,352,000	34,721,000
Income (loss) from operations	1,574,000	1,386,000	3,528,000	3,896,000
Interest (income) expense, net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes	1,574,000	1,386,000	3,528,000	3,896,000
Revenues	367,799,000	365,574,000	1,104,280,000	1,097,397,000
Income (loss) from operations	47,917,000	52,352,000	144,404,000	154,492,000
Interest (income) expense, net	(691,000)	(563,000)	(1,908,000)	(1,884,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	$ 48,699,000	$ 52,843,000	$ 146,056,000	$ 155,053,000

[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.