<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950144-07-000475
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>3
<PERIOD>20070118
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20070123
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20070123
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ABLEST INC
<CIK>0000046653
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<IRS-NUMBER>160803301
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1227
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10893
<FILM-NUMBER>07547616
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1901 ULMERTON ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 300
<CITY>CLEARWATER
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33762
<PHONE>7237461565
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>45 ANDERSON ROAD
<CITY>BUFFALO
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14225
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>HEIST C H CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>g05173e8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ABLEST, INC.
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>ABLEST, INC.</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;18, 2007</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>ABLEST INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><I>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</I></DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>1-10893</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>65-0978462</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(State or other jurisdiction <BR>
of incorporation)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Commission File Number)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(IRS Employer Identification No)</I></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite&nbsp;900, Tampa, Florida</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>33607</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Address of principal executive offices)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(Zip Code)</I></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><I>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code): </I>(<B>813) 830-7700</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U><B>Not Applicable</B></U><BR>
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230,425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">Item&nbsp;7.01. Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">SIGNATURE</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003"><U>EXHIBIT INDEX</U></A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g05173exv99w1.htm">EX-99.1  PRESS RELEASE</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>




<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;7.01. Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B>Item&nbsp;7.01.</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">On January&nbsp;23, 2007, Ablest Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;)
announced that its Board of Directors had received
a proposal from certain existing investors,
including Charles H. Heist, III, the Company&#146;s
Chairman of the Board, Kurt R. Moore, the Company&#146;s
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Burton
Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership and The
Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership, to acquire
all of the Company&#146;s publicly held common stock for
$7.50 per share in cash.<br><br>
The Company&#146;s Board of Directors has formed a
Special Committee of four independent directors to
review and evaluate the proposal and any strategic
alternatives to the proposal that may be available
to the Company. The Company cautions its
stockholders and others considering trading in its
securities that its Board of Directors has just
received the proposal, and that the process of
considering the proposal is only in its beginning
stages. The Special Committee will proceed in an
orderly and timely manner to consider the proposal
and its implications. The Special Committee has
not made a determination whether a transaction is
in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders or whether the Company should pursue
any available alternative to the proposal.
Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company
will enter into this or any other transaction.<br><br>
A copy of the press release announcing receipt of
the proposal is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this
Form&nbsp;8-K and incorporated into this Item&nbsp;7.01 by
reference.<br><br>
The information furnished pursuant to this Item
7.01 and Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto shall not be deemed
&#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise
subject to the liability of that section, except if
the Company specifically incorporates it by
reference into a filing under the Securities Act of
1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.<br><br>
<I>The statements contained in this Current Report on
Form&nbsp;8-K that are not purely historical are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section&nbsp;31E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
including statements regarding the Company&#146;s
expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or
strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking
statements include statements regarding, among
other things, the future intentions of the Special
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
regarding possible strategic alternatives,
including the proposal from existing investors.
Prospective investors are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties, and that actual results may differ
materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements as a result of various
factors. All forward-looking statements included
in this document are based on information available
to the Company on the date hereof and the Company
assumes no obligation to update any such
forward-looking statement. Prospective investors
should also consult the risks described from time
to time in the company&#146;s Reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q
and 10-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders.</I></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01.</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Press Release, dated January&nbsp;23, 2007</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<!-- link1 "SIGNATURE" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">ABLEST INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">January 23, 2007&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Kurt R. Moore
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Kurt R. Moore&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">President and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "<U>EXHIBIT INDEX</U>" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><U><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></U>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Press Release, dated January&nbsp;23, 2007</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->E-1<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>g05173exv99w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1  PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>EX-99.1  PRESS RELEASE</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<Div align="left">Exhibit 99.1</div>

<DIV align="center" style="margin-top:6px">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="60%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><IMG src="g05173g0517300.gif" alt="(ABLEST LOGO)">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite&nbsp;900<br>
Tampa, Florida 33607<br>
(813)&nbsp;830-7700<br>
<u>www.ablest.com</u></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<BR>
Tuesday, January&nbsp;23, 2007
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">SYMBOL:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AIH<BR>
TRADED:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AMEX</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>ABLEST INC. ANNOUNCES RECEIPT OF<BR>
GOING PRIVATE PROPOSAL AT $7.50 PER SHARE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TAMPA, Fla., January&nbsp;23, 2007 &#151; Ablest Inc. (Amex: AIH) today announced that its Board of
Directors had received a proposal from certain existing investors, including Charles H. Heist, III,
the Company&#146;s Chairman of the Board, Kurt R. Moore, the Company&#146;s President and Chief Executive
Officer, The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership, Limited
Partnership, to acquire all of the Company&#146;s publicly held common stock for $7.50 per share in
cash.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Board of Directors has formed a Special Committee of four independent directors to
review and evaluate the proposal and any strategic alternatives to the proposal that may be
available to the Company. The Company cautions its stockholders and others considering trading in
its securities that its Board of Directors has just received the proposal, and that the process of
considering the proposal is only in its beginning stages. The Special Committee will proceed in an
orderly and timely manner to consider the proposal and its implications. The Special Committee has
not made a determination whether a transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders or whether the Company should pursue any available alternative to the proposal.
Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company will enter into this or any other transaction.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>About Ablest</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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)&nbsp;programs. Professional Services
offers employment and consulting services in the Information Technology and Finance and Accounting
sectors. Ablest&#146;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.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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&#146;s business.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">* * * * *
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">SOURCE:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Ablest Inc.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CONTACT:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">John Horan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<br>
813/830-7700 or jhoran@ablest.com/</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>


</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>g05173g0517300.gif
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
begin 644 g05173g0517300.gif
M1TE&.#EA$`%``/<`````````A`@("`@(A`@(C!`0$!`0C!@8&!@8E"$A(2$A
MG"DI*3$Q,3$QI3DY.3DYI4)"0D)"A$)"K4)"QDI*2E)2M5I:6EI:O5I:QF-C
M8V-CQFMK:W-S<W-SQGM[>X2$A(2$K82$SHR,C(R,SHR,UI24E)R<G)R<WJ6E
MI:6EWK6UM;6UY[V]O<;&QL;&[\[.SM;6UO__________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M____________________________________________________________
M_____________________RP`````$`%````(_@!C"!Q(L*#!@P@3*ES(L*'#
MAQ`C2IQ(L:+%BQ@S:MS(L:/'CR!#BAQ)LJ3)DRA3JES)LJ5+ER]:M(A)<Z;-
MF#=SXJS)TZ;.G`)[QG0HLZC1HTB/*DQ:4:A,ISM_OF@8%:K!FE)S9JW:0N0+
M!PZFQD@1H*S9LVC3JEW+MBR!J2U*`)A+UX%#$73SZMVK-X&#$C(-JM#;E2(+
MOH@3TT5Q\$5,%!\L+%`\EP&*H3%:.*#,&;'8CRWR=GT1H:WITZA#.$[\.6&+
M`IUC`_A0<&]AB2]@RZ9\.\8+"+L14Y`9/#:#UAQ?<,C+8>H+U-"CES4@%B]B
M%0P/%U?,H+=>QA1?_FP7_OG%Y/'?4:!7C!WD8+WM!TB?WS:%6,4E&)I8C]B[
MZ(JA\4=7?D&=IU@!"":86`(4",A7;\DEL%<"<!%`WX5G72"6>'D9"(`%#`%'
M5P$L)(44"RRHH-Y>+!!$6$4K+F;BC$9]UJ!>"WR`0HDS"?4""_OIQ2.-*N@&
M`&`T/@72!XA],!,)&&+XED`MQ`B`!];-1>%">CD`(4.OP3=0@',-5]%R>2%'
MD5X<S`01D_\MI-U<7Z*DV&@*1$F?"H61"0"%[]&E9FUY$0B19D*.F9<)37FX
MP*`1<3A7"9`J]%6<"F4)0*4D2<I76#&PH*=T&@9UXUPM^@E`BPHE*M&I_G0J
M2A>K$WEZ949D@CH1FG-QZMMF=+740I")B>!;!Z.B-F5F5F[@G%Z,MIJF1"UX
MN.E`Q!90IT.!S@7>17"N&MZI"6P[4&YYM80N950BD*QI]E%IY):9`3L7!Y9V
M:&Y"ZY;99P9U[;M0N+UB9-Y<!?C*;UX@RJD72R]8T)ES*KS+E@8;2DQ7>P)Y
MT&&E?GHPT9QS&4ME7B;7:N^?"C,D:9L4^6EH0L3.M5(+W;(WV@46IT4=E58"
MT)N5"2?4[;<0:2JTK'-QC!N;&06*=*0HJ'C90A'G)<!*_7(F5@L&]'Q6"H5U
M#4!!JIJKJ<`(]76;E6R[]EU&<J%J4IATI7R2_G*[>3`:66('4*IO&F]<D*U3
MGVMON=3J11N5O"X0-T)UTS7Y0KQ>?I&JM)IT<'%PE2;VUWM!@%P+`FB-D*I$
MV41PK"?3Q0"`1@*@K4]/Y8[[3061JT++%TDX[4EQC4>I;U!:'$%0O'H[:,UG
M'V1E`@LP4/WU#%!O??8)U$Z7!4-CVKB#4S?_IP4?E%"U"BFBZ'X+*!8%O&\>
MBHR2JL&5G6>R!HR6LP60RAE""B<@#R#'8Y717$&"AAX(06\[!3@`\%3EM$ZM
MK#@9$(NHDA6OKA4-(;8Z2`N$)Z!']:9:=,'7F1STP7,Y"``F:%G.YH>1*@GH
M:B_0P*A*U0+S76UU_K43X0LM=QL_)>XA+R#A>G1U+@:.)VX$>]3>O`?!#;D+
M0_T3R/\X=2E!&<2)_/E,MQ1($/R-1V_G4B)Z5&@I#[&Q4^9;X]^BU$$/:8LA
M:S-(\U#`QS[Z\8\F*,$'.'!!`'",8&0<2,Y0D*090>H%*O@`!1;0O019$D&V
M0XP4\Y67([IGB.+R#88&!RL`_%`A5CH=`^@B.=RPH';@093E*O(Z&N+&,3=Q
MC"YU6:7:^8ID2RO)YUZXR0O]3"!Z`6!#_%1!3[WQ4`2,Y<,JDCI6VC(D/Q+?
M03350I&TX'4.$L%41D`?L@4E+W>DRJ(*0C)/-J1Y[0&F19+YDL,-#X0K_@-?
M2<SHH-%(@%0;(M@'G"(5`STSCQ1I7F$J9[.*S*V>+IP+$QM3NVB1A("@5&$+
MHG/,4+V07O72YD-D:3NXE'*>(L5-($M0@LZ-[U9+<56G=DG3FMKTIC2A$OQ<
M@"*>LH"G(.@ICPHTQ/($,3Q&\E)F]()&B'BJFS%;)XP6LQ"B79-:7.G)5G('
ME=L0-*=,>^&W7D?+O#SN=8^;B)\.D,B"$*RI2"3AOFPE@+9"!)CH1)A>]YK)
MOOI5-P-!%EM.<"YK"4BC&(T9"8O6`@)V9ZJS,IB]H`J10*5U=6(:R3!!N9<-
MA4TM#_@:0X762!/9"U1X"]9$NJ7/U,(TH?=L_DI>*'!5^LT2E>BL[4B5QME.
MPF4%:B%`$?6R-8H0#"Y,I=8(\](>"C:*E7:-J$03V0($%DPAS6NE-WN;F`^V
MH`)I(<&&+NA2B,`M!D&KX$)D8H+:,0Z]+XHJ7>QW$<3-;R8LN"#6ZJ?90G(W
MA7WZK%DV!#T#`HBY,7@=!Q;,X`8SV`(6F*0:O340\SGXPAAF<`RZY8`,>[C!
MP]T+!T2@/CZJX,16*X$'++#*TF'MH2`9UG\5PZH7G``M866913SE),,*Z&L3
MWL[LP/G$-()RDT;3BVZ72<496S,H_RS+!$PET_`8R`$P:#)_<HP>`_IW.ZT9
M[1(55DML8M3)>@$,_I6F`Y>@-0<CO"H`&-&C3RV*U5;K.=R9BU.`XV%M96\&
MR9S1#+L70(E/2\T+2"UBI5*B)P$<*!%!K,L?^`WQ*B((,F<*8('+Q`UQ(D%!
M"4@\:D&6FM0D)C5+5\WJ5KO:U8&DU0O,N>%!,KB\,6.P!S[\80^DSP2,#(Q!
M3,#K8B]8!/`SMK$A`$(6J"?"8'$`!:3M@`Q(#-@LP*53'1Q=B'K[V^`.M[C'
M3>YRF_O<Z$ZWNM?-[G:[N]P^Z6I6M=+5K<X;*_+FZD_LK6^MUCO?6^5WP/\]
M\*P(G.!?+7C"P1J#!SB\`0UX`,0E'O&)5_SB%*>XQ3$.\8UGO.,<Y_C'NT/N
M\8V77.0GE_C(1YYRD*_<XB^_>,L['O.9JWSF.`_YQV-^<YV[_.0@A_A`'/X`
M#1C=Z!@XNM*3KO2C,[WI3U]ZTX\^@:EK(.I.MWK5K8YUI'/=ZE?_^M2[;O2M
M0UWL33?[V<>.]K6[7>I:;WO6V2YWKQ\]Z$(/2H_>S?>^AUM^O/.[X`=/^,(;
M_O"(3[SB%\_XQCO^\9"/O.0G3_G*6_[RF,^\YC?/^<Y[_O.@#[WH1T_ZTIO^
'].P."```.S\_
`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
