National healthcare linen services provider, ImageFIRST, expands laundry delivery and processing capabilities to Buffalo, New York with latest acquisition
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., January 25, 2023 – ImageFIRST, the largest national provider of linen, laundry, and safety & hygiene services specializing in the healthcare industry, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY. This acquisition marks ImageFIRST’s second laundry processing plant in the state of New York. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“The opportunity to partner with ImageFIRST was too good to pass up,” said Patrick Fox and Anthony Martello, former owners of Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY in a joint statement. “We share similar values and ImageFIRST brings a proven track record that we felt was in the best interest of our customers and associates to make this change. We look forward to continuing to provide world-class products and service as part of the ImageFIRST team.”
Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY, founded in 2005, provides medical linen, garment rental and laundry services for the healthcare industry throughout western New York. The company has one processing plant located in Tonawanda, NY. Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY will continue to be led by local leadership – Anthony Martello as General Manager and Patrick Fox as Operations Manager – and existing associates have been retained.
ImageFIRST is the nation’s largest linen and laundry services provider that specializes in the healthcare industry. This transaction enables ImageFIRST to expand their service area in New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, thereby creating more job opportunities in the region. Existing customers of Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY will now be serviced by ImageFIRST. This transaction does not include or involve HealthWear Rental, Inc. (Endicott, NY) or any other Healthwear Licensees.
“We’re enthusiastic about bringing the Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY team under the ImageFIRST umbrella,” said ImageFIRST President and CEO, Jim Cashman. “Our companies both share a dedication to our customers and our associates, which will pave the way for a successful future together in the western New York and northwestern Pennsylvanian markets.”
ImageFIRST made seven acquisitions across the U.S. in 2022, making them the largest national linen and laundry provider specializing in healthcare. Recent acquisitions included United Linen & Uniform Services (Okla.), Edina Laundry Company (Minn.), and Allegiant Linen Services (Tenn.). The company’s latest acquisition in New York serves as a key step in ImageFIRST’s strategic expansion — providing the linen specialists with greater opportunities to insource processing and enhance service capabilities nationally.
ABOUT IMAGEFIRST
Founded in 1967, ImageFIRST® is the largest national linen rental and laundry service specializing in the healthcare market. Acquired by private equity firm Calera Capital in 2018, ImageFIRST serves medical facilities nationwide providing linen, patient gowns, scrubs, and safety and hygiene services while managing their clients’ linen inventory for cost management. With a customer retention rate of over 97%, ImageFIRST is dedicated to improving staff and patient satisfaction through their quality linen and remarkable service. As leaders in infection prevention, they own and operate the most HLAC-accredited facilities in the industry. For more information, visit imagefirst.com.
Join the team – with this new growth, we have added additional job opportunities in Buffalo and beyond! Visit imagefirst.com/careers to view openings.
ABOUT ISLAND FOX INC. d/b/a HEALTH WEAR OF WNY
Island Fox Inc. d/b/a Health Wear of WNY, founded in 2005, provides full-service linen and laundry delivery for the healthcare industry throughout western New York – serving medical facilities from Rochester to Buffalo and beyond.
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Media Contact:
Halle Forbes, ImageFIRST
(267) 922-2194
hforbes@imagefirst.com