Ablest Inc (46653) SEC Filing 10-Q Quarterly report for the period ending Sunday, October 1, 2006

Exhibit 99.1

		1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 900 Tampa, Florida 33607 (813) 830-7700 www.ablest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		SYMBOL:		AIH
Friday, November 10, 2006		TRADED:		AMEX

ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED NET INCOME FOR THIRD QUARTER

     TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 10 — Ablest Inc. (Amex: AIH) today reported that net income for the fiscal third quarter ended October 1, 2006 increased to $396,000 or $0.13 per diluted share compared to $367,000 or $0.13 per diluted share for the similar period last year. Revenues were $34.7 million compared to $34.9 million in the 2005 third quarter.

     For the first 40 weeks of fiscal 2006 revenues increased 6.5 percent to $104.9 million from $98.5 million in the corresponding 39-week period of the prior year. Net income was $1.0 million or $0.35 per diluted share compared to $1.2 million equal to $0.41 cents per diluted share for the 39 weeks ended September 25, 2005. Increased selling, general and administrative expenses relating to both new offices and sales staff additions contributed to this reduction in 2006 net income as compared to the prior year.

     Kurt R. Moore, president and chief executive officer, said, “Third quarter 2006 revenues were essentially flat compared to the third quarter 2005 reflecting both the slowdown we are seeing in certain industries such as home building, furniture and consumer products and also our selective paring of customers not meeting our margin expectations. While 2006 year-to-date revenue increased only modestly, gross profit increased 10.6 percent versus the year-ago third quarter level and was up 7.2 percent over the previous quarter’s gross profit due to our strategy execution and servicing efforts to improve pricing and margins across the company.”

About Ablest

     Ablest is a leader in workforce services; creating and delivering local solutions that enable companies to compete and win in an ever-changing business world. Services are provided through its Staffing Services and Professional Services Divisions. Staffing Services offers customers a range of employment services in the office and light industrial sectors including employee assessment and selection, training, managed services and vendor-on-premise (VOP) programs. Professional Services offers employment and consulting services in the Information Technology and Finance and Accounting sectors. Ablest’s Services focus on improving customer performance in the areas of quality, efficiency and cost-reduction within their workforce. Ablest supplies more than 37,000 field employees and consultants to approximately 2,000 businesses annually through 60 locations in the Eastern and Southwestern United States.

     Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers should carefully review and consider disclosures, including periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect the company’s business.

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