ImageFIRST

Opportunity

Calera partnered with the management team of ImageFIRST to build the national leader in specialty healthcare laundry services.

• Identified the opportunity to build a true national platform, through a combination of organic investments and acquisitions
• Aligned on a shared vision to build a billion-dollar-plus business while remaining grounded in ImageFIRST’s core operating principles and commitment to its associates, communities, and customers

Calera Supported Initiatives

Calera supported a dramatic expansion of the business while continuing to invest in the company’s people, culture, and core service promise:

• Geographic Expansion: Grew the company from 26 locations in 17 states to more than 80 locations across 33 states
• Sales Force Scaling: Tripled the size of the sales team while improving productivity through investments in sales leadership, sales talent, and sales process excellence
• Operational Excellence: Invested over $100M in plant infrastructure, while rolling out continuous improvement programs to drive improvement in plant efficiencies and utilization
• Strategic Acquisitions: Completed over 25 acquisitions, significantly expanding the company’s geographic footprint and customer base
• Platform Build Out: Partnered with the CEO and founders to build out a next-generation organizational structure, including several key senior hires

Results

ImageFIRST scaled rapidly into a true national platform, while staying true to its company mission and culture:

• Revenue and EBITDA have grown over 6x since the time of the original investment 
• Business well-positioned for significant future success with a strong operating platform, national scale, and a high-performing, values-driven culture

Note: Information as of December 31, 2024.