Exhibit 99.1

		1511 N. Westshore Blvd, Suite 900
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Tampa, Florida 33607
Wednesday May 16, 2006		(813) 830-7700
		www.ablest.com

ABLEST INC. REPORTS IMPROVED REVENUE AND EARNINGS FOR FIRST QUARTER

     TAMPA, Fla., May 16 — Ablest Inc. (Amex: AIH) today announced that revenue for the 14-week fiscal first quarter ended April 2, 2006, increased 16.3 percent to $35.9 million from revenue of $30.8 million in the 13-week fiscal first quarter of 2005. Net income increased 31.8 percent to $348,000 or $0.12 per diluted share compared to net income of $264,000 or $0.09 per diluted share for 2005.

     Kurt R. Moore, president and chief executive officer, said, “We are pleased with our first quarter results. The employment and hiring markets were positive in the first quarter, contributing to demand for both Staffing Services and Professional Services. We saw continued success with our efforts to increase margins through the addition of customers in the mid to small business sectors. In addition, our branch team execution is focused on our customer and employee loyalty initiatives with good results.”

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. Staffing Services offer 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 offer 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 56 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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ABLEST INC.
Condensed Statements of Income
(amounts in thousands except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

		For the Fourteen Week				For the Thirteen Week
		Period Ended				Period Ended
		April 2, 2006				March 27, 2005
Net service revenues		$	35,864			$	30,835
Cost of services			29,753				25,858
Gross profit			6,111				4,977
Selling, general and administrative expenses			5,551				4,549
Operating income			560				428
Other:
Interest income, net			—				—
Miscellaneous income (expense), net			1				(3	)
Other income (expense)			1				(3	)
Income before income taxes			561				425
Income tax expense			213				161
Net income		$	348			$	264
Basic net income per common share		$	0.12			$	0.09
Diluted net income per common share		$	0.12			$	0.09
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing net income per common share
Basic			2,879,764				2,854,578
Diluted			2,935,050				2,926,692

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(Unaudited)

		April 2, 2006				December 25, 2005
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash		$	4,169			$	1,931
Accounts receivable, net			15,032				18,760
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			599				469
Current deferred tax asset			1,246				1,246
Total current assets			21,046				22,406
Property and equipment, net			1,997				1,732
Deferred tax asset			727				863
Goodwill			1,283				1,283
Other assets			243				171
Total assets		$	25,296			$	26,455
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable		$	527			$	841
Accrued insurance			1,985				2,536
Accrued wages			2,131				2,738
Other current liabilities			428				514
Total current liabilities			5,071				6,629
Other liabilities			122				432
Total liabilities			5,193				7,061
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES			—				—
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock of $.05 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding at April 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005			—				—
Common stock of $.05 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized, 3,387,118 and 3,334,344 shares issued and outstanding including shares held in treasury at April 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005, respectively			169				167
Additional paid-in capital			5,624				5,265
Retained earnings			16,420				16,072
Treasury stock at cost; 457,729 shares held at April 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005			(2,110	)			(2,110	)
Total stockholders’ equity			20,103				19,394
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	25,296			$	26,455

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SOURCE:		Ablest Inc.
CONTACT:		Charles H. Heist, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
		813-830-7700 or theist@ablest.com/