The group's principal activity is to provide textile rental and laundry services. The group provides products and services to health care institutions, hotels, motels and restaurants in or near major metropolitan areas. The group operates in two segments: textile services and life uniform. On 31-Jan-2004, the textile services segment had 28 laundry plants operating in the United States providing textile rental and laundry services for health care institutions. This segment also provides a limited amount of general linen services in selected areas, such as hotels, motels and restaurants. The retail sales segment consists of approximately 1,250 specialty retail stores and approximately 10 catalogue operations in the United States. In 2004, the group acquired laundry business assets of duke university health system inc.