<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF UNIFIRST CORPORATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 29, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-29-1998 <PERIOD-START> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-29-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,330 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 43,656 <ALLOWANCES> 1,529 <INVENTORY> 24,152 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 114,768 <PP&E> 358,223 <DEPRECIATION> 147,261 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 376,130 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 65,455 <BONDS> 45,955 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,051 <OTHER-SE> 244,323 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 376,130 <SALES> 448,052 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 448,052 <CGS> 393,877 <TOTAL-COSTS> 393,877 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,316 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51,859 <INCOME-TAX> 18,669 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 33,190 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,190 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0