DM Sales of Uniforms Down for Aramark

Aramark, an institutional products supplier, generated net income of $84.6 million during fourth-quarter 2004, down from $105.3 million it earned a year earlier. The company’s sales were $2.62 billion, up slightly from the $2.59 billion in fourth quarter 2003. Fourth quarter 2003 contained one extra week of operations. The quarter ended Oct. 1.

While the Philadelphia-based company saw growth in its food and support services operations, its uniform and career apparel segment did not fare as well. Rental sales amounted to $264 million, down from $271.1 million, and direct marketing sales were just under $100 million, a drop from the $112.8 million it realized a year ago.