Exhibit 32.1

 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS
        ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


The undersigned officer of UniFirst Corporation (the "Company") hereby certifies
that the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August
30, 2003 (the "Report"), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
the date hereof, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d),
as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. This
certification is provided solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and shall not be
deemed to be part of the Report or "filed" for any purpose whatsoever.

Date: November 26, 2003

                                 By: /s/ Ronald D. Croatti
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Ronald D. Croatti, Chief Executive Officer
                                     (Principal Executive Officer)