Redaptive Partners With UniFirst to Modernize Energy Infrastructure Across Facilities

Rhea-AI Summary

UniFirst (NYSE: UNF) completed the first phase of a multi-site energy modernization program in partnership with Redaptive, covering 39 facilities and more than 2.5 million sq ft of facility space.

Redaptive provided upfront capital and turnkey project management for LED lighting installations. The upgrades are projected to save UniFirst several million dollars in energy costs and avoid more than 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ over 10 years (equivalent to ~50,000 barrels of oil or the annual emissions of 4,157 homes). The companies are evaluating additional modernization opportunities.

Positive

• 39 facilities modernized with LED lighting
• Project covers 2.5 million sq ft of facility space
• Projected avoidance of 21,000 metric tons CO₂ over 10 years
• Estimated several million dollars in energy cost savings

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

+1.12%

1 alert

+1.12% News Effect

On the day this news was published, UNF gained 1.12%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Facilities upgraded: 39 facilities Facility space: 2.5 million square feet CO₂ avoided: 21,000 metric tons +3 more

6 metrics

Facilities upgraded 39 facilities First phase of Redaptive-UniFirst energy program

Facility space 2.5 million square feet UniFirst operations covered by LED upgrades

CO₂ avoided 21,000 metric tons Projected emissions reduction over 10 years

Program duration 10 years Timeframe for projected CO₂ avoidance

Oil equivalent 50,000 barrels CO₂ savings compared to oil consumption

Homes equivalent 4,157 homes Annual carbon output comparison for emissions savings

Market Reality Check

Price: $209.80 Vol: Volume 80,416 is well bel...

low vol

$209.80 Last Close

Volume Volume 80,416 is well below the 20-day average of 282,199, suggesting limited pre-news positioning. low

Technical Shares at $199.77 are above the $175.54 200-day MA and about 14% below the 52-week high of $232.14.

Peers on Argus

UNF slipped 0.86% with light volume. Key peers like CBZ, AZZ, FA, and TIC also s...

UNF slipped 0.86% with light volume. Key peers like CBZ, AZZ, FA, and TIC also showed modest to sharp declines, while ABM was roughly flat, indicating more stock-specific trading than a unified sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 07 (Negative)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 07	Earnings release	Negative	-3.0%	Q1 revenue grew but margins and EPS declined versus prior year.
Dec 22	Earnings date set	Neutral	+16.1%	Announced Q1 2026 release date and conference call details.
Dec 22	Acquisition proposal	Positive	+16.1%	Confirmed unsolicited Cintas cash proposal at $275 per share.
Dec 22	Acquisition terms	Positive	+16.1%	Detailed Cintas offer terms and 64% premium to 90-day average.
Dec 16	Activist commentary	Negative	-1.9%	Engine Capital commented on shareholder mandate for change.

Pattern Detected

Recent news—including the Cintas proposal and earnings—has generally seen price moves that align with the apparent positive or negative tone of each announcement.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, UniFirst has navigated major strategic and financial developments. On Dec 12–22, 2025, Cintas proposed acquiring UniFirst for $275.00 per share, implying about $5.2 billion in value and driving a 16.15% move on related headlines. An activist-focused filing on Dec 16, 2025 coincided with a modest decline. Fiscal Q1 2026 results on Jan 7, 2026 showed revenue growth to $621.3M but lower margins and EPS, and the stock fell 3.03%. Today’s sustainability-focused partnership fits into this backdrop of operational investment and strategic interest.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights UniFirst’s first-phase completion of an energy modernization program wi...

Analysis

This announcement highlights UniFirst’s first-phase completion of an energy modernization program with Redaptive, covering 39 facilities and over 2.5 million square feet. The project targets long-term savings and the avoidance of more than 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ over 10 years. In the context of recent earnings pressure and an outstanding acquisition proposal at $275 per share, this partnership underscores management’s focus on efficiency and sustainability. Key items to watch include actual cost savings realization and how future earnings commentary frames these investments.

Key Terms

co₂ emissions

1 terms

co₂ emissions technical

"Multi-phase program projected to eliminate over 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions"

CO₂ emissions are the carbon dioxide gas released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned or from certain industrial processes; think of it as the invisible smoke coming off factories, power plants and vehicles. Investors care because the scale and trend of a company's emissions affect regulatory costs, carbon pricing, operating efficiency and brand risk, so lower emissions can mean lower future expenses and better resilience against rules or shifting customer preferences.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Multi-phase program projected to eliminate over 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions

DENVER, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Redaptive, the pioneer of infrastructure monetization, today announced the successful completion of the first phase of a multi-site energy modernization program with UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), across 39 facilities throughout the U.S. Through this collaboration, Redaptive provided upfront capital and turnkey project management for LED installations. The companies are currently evaluating additional opportunities for energy modernization.

"UniFirst is setting an example for how enterprises can modernize outdated infrastructure while achieving business goals," said Arvin Vohra, CEO, Redaptive. "Our strategic partnership highlights the potential of scalable solutions across large facility footprints, helping organizations achieve significant energy savings and carbon reductions while preserving capital."

The first phase of the project focused on LED lighting installations across 39 UniFirst operations, covering more than 2.5 million square feet of facility space. These upgrades modernized existing lighting systems and significantly improved energy efficiency, providing bottom-line financial benefit.

The total infrastructure upgrades are projected to save UniFirst several million dollars in energy costs while avoiding more than 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions over 10 years — comparable to eliminating nearly 50,000 barrels of oil consumption or matching the annual carbon output of 4,157 residential homes.

"Partnering with Redaptive allows us to strategically improve our operational infrastructure," said Matt Croatti, Senior Vice President, UniFirst. "This collaboration strengthens operational efficiency, reduces costs, and helps us advance our business objectives, creating long-term value for our customers, employee Team Partners, and UniFirst shareholders."

Learn more about the most recent impact and results from the Redaptive and UniFirst partnership: redaptive.com.

About UniFirst Corporation
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its five company-owned ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the Company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 800-296-2740 or visit UniFirst.com.

About Redaptive
Redaptive redefines how energy and infrastructure projects are financed, delivered, and scaled – unlocking trapped value inside buildings and across portfolios through a new model called Infrastructure Monetization. Its programmatic approach replaces CapEx-heavy, reactive upgrades with scalable solutions that combine tailored financing, turnkey modernization, and measurable outcomes. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Redaptive empowers organizations to reduce risk, lower total cost of ownership, and accelerate enterprise value creation—transforming infrastructure from a drag on performance into a catalyst for growth. For more information, visit Redaptive.com.

Media Contact:
Gwendolyn Keefe, Head of PR and Communications, Redaptive
gwendolyn.keefe@redaptiveinc.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/redaptive-partners-with-unifirst-to-modernize-energy-infrastructure-across-facilities-302660768.html

SOURCE Redaptive

FAQ

What did UniFirst (UNF) announce on January 14, 2026 about energy upgrades?

UniFirst completed phase one of a multi-site LED modernization across 39 facilities, partnering with Redaptive for capital and project management.

How much facility space did the UniFirst (UNF) LED project cover?

The program covered more than 2.5 million square feet of UniFirst operations.

What are the projected energy cost savings for UniFirst (UNF) from the Redaptive project?

The upgrades are projected to save UniFirst several million dollars in energy costs over the program horizon.

How much CO₂ reduction did UniFirst (UNF) report from the modernization?

The first phase is projected to avoid more than 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ over 10 years.

Will UniFirst (UNF) pursue more energy modernization after the January 14, 2026 announcement?

Yes; the companies said they are evaluating additional opportunities for energy modernization across UniFirst operations.

What role did Redaptive play in UniFirst's (UNF) facility upgrades announced January 14, 2026?

Redaptive provided upfront capital and turnkey project management to implement LED installations across the sites.