In 2022, we celebrated 100 years of Unitex. Join us on the journey that led to us becoming one of the most trusted linen services in the U.S.
Following Our Journey: 100 Years of Unitex
The Early Days (1915-1947)
The 100 years of Unitex began in 1915 when Max Potack joined his uncles at US Coat & Apron Supply. They primarily served food establishments. The company planted its roots in New York, where Max saw an opportunity to grow and diversify the business.
On July 25th, 1922, Max registered A&P Coat & Apron and Linen Supply as a corporation in New York. He cleverly selected the name to secure a prime listing in the phone book. They made deliveries by horse and wagon, with horses leased from Oakley Stables in Manhattan. In 1932, Max and his sons, Bernard and Gerald, relocated the business from Manhattan to Kosciuszko Street in Brooklyn, NY. This marked the beginning of a series of strategic moves.
In 1947, A&P moved to the Bronx and partnered with Eveready Linen Services and Citizens Linen to form Cromwell Laundry. Despite this joint venture, A&P Coat & Apron remained a distinct entity. The first era of 100 years of Unitex ended with Bernard at the helm after Gerald’s passing in 1948.
Expansion and Innovation (1950-1980)
The 1950s and 60s involved rapid growth for A&P, fueled by organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. These acquisitions included companies like Star Napkin, Eveready, and Blue Cross Towel. By 1962, Bernard had bought out the last remaining Cromwell partner, Citizens, becoming the sole owner of the business. This era saw the company diversifying its client base to include hospitality, long-term care facilities, and community hospitals.
In 1966, leadership passed to Bernard’s son Michael after Bernard suffered a heart attack. Under Michael’s direction, the company continued to thrive. A notable milestone involved the acquisition of Monroe Laundry in Monroe, NY, in 1972. Monroe serviced acute care facilities and West Point Military Academy. By 1974, A&P reconfigured the Middletown facility to process linen for healthcare facilities and rebranded as Shared Textile Services.
In 1980, company leadership converted Monroe Laundry Services into Shared Textile Services. This represented an attempt to reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to serving long-term care facilities.
The Birth of Unitex (1984-2001)
The 1980s marked the official transformation of the company into Unitex. In 1984, the company purchased a laundry processing facility from Roamer Linen Services in Mt. Vernon, NY. It converted its Bronx facility into a healthcare processing facility named Unitex Textile Rental Services. This decade also saw Unitex acquiring a 50% interest in Med-Apparel Services in Perth Amboy, NJ. Unitex owned 100% of the facility by 1987.
Unitex continued to expand throughout the 1990s. They established a significant presence in Connecticut by 1992 and acquired a laundry facility in Waterbury, CT, in 1994. The next generation of leadership emerged in 1995 when David Potack joined as General Manager. Robert Potack followed in 2001, contributing to the company’s operational growth.
Modernization and Growth (2003-2022)
The new millennium heralded unprecedented growth for Unitex. In 2003, Unitex opened its second Mt. Vernon facility, one of the most automated healthcare laundry facilities in the country. This facility could produce 45 million pounds of laundry annually. By 2008, a new facility in Newburgh, NY, expanded this capacity even further.
Unitex’s commitment to sustainability showed in the opening of its greenest facility in North America in New Brunswick in 2011. This 60,000-square-foot facility processed over 57 million pounds of laundry annually. It set new standards in water, chemical, and energy efficiency.
The company continued expansion with the acquisition of Amertex Textile Services’ Healthcare Uniform and Textile Rental Business Division in 2015. In 2016, Unitex opened its 11th facility in Linden, NJ, equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Acquisitions of two large companies in 2016 and 2018 further solidified Unitex’s position as a leader in healthcare laundry. Unitex opened its 12th facility in Lawrence, MA, in 2020 and its 13th facility in 2022. This extended the company’s service footprint across New England.
Celebrating 100 Years of Unitex
On July 25th, 2022, we celebrated 100 years of Unitex. This marked a century of innovation, growth, and commitment to quality service. All 13 facilities hosted BBQ lunches for their team members, with special giveaway items and raffle prizes. We proudly commemorated the incredible journey of 100 years of Unitex.
Ready to learn more about the quality of service that led to 100 years of Unitex? Contact us online today to get started with our premier healthcare linen services.