Rentokil’s history is a captivating tale of innovation, dedication to customer service and global
expansion. Over the century, the company’s journey is marked by significant innovations, strategic
acquisitions and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
The birth of a brand
The story begins with Professor Harold Maxwell-Lefroy, a brilliant entomologist who developed a
groundbreaking timber treatment fluid to combat wood-boring beetles in the roof timbers of
Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament in London. The publicity surrounding the saving of the
building and its opening by the King attracted many requests to treat other properties. This
prompted him to hire an assistant, Bessie Eades, to help capitalise on the business opportunity.
They named the product Rentokil and registered the name as a trademark. Subsequently, they set
up a company called Disinfectants and General Products Limited and started selling under the
Rentokil brand in 1925. Tragically, Maxwell-Lefroy passed away the same year after accidentally
inhaling fumes of insecticides he was testing in his lab at Imperial College, London before he could
witness the full impact of his invention.
Early Rentokil timber fluid packaging, bearing the slogan “Destroys the Destroyers of your Furniture”. Text on the side of the can includes the claim that the product is made “From the original formula of the late Professor H. M. Lefroy”.
Bessie Eades, who set up the business and ran Rentokil for three decades
However, his legacy lived on through Bessie Eades, who recognised the timber fluid’s commercial potential. She bought the rights to it from Maxwell-Lefroy’s widow and relaunched the company as Rentokil (Sales) Ltd in 1928 to market the Rentokil Timber Fluid. Eades’s astute decision to sell directly to the public, emphasises the connection to Maxwell-Lefroy, and promote the long-lasting effectiveness of the treatment, were crucial factors in the success of the new company.
Bessie Eades concentrated on developing new products, which included beetle powder for kitchens, various insect treatments, a moth treatment, furniture cream, and a germicide specifically designed for telephones. The top-selling product was an insecticide initially called Kilit, which later became known as Rentokilit.
Rentokil advertisements from the 1930s
Embracing expertise
In 1944, Bessie Eades recruited Dr Norman Hickin, an entomologist and skilled communicator. His expertise in wood-boring beetles, coupled with his talent for public speaking and technical writing, played a crucial role in building the Rentokil brand.
Hickin’s efforts to educate the public about woodworm infestation transformed perceptions and opened a significant growth area for the business. He invented an applicator to inject timber fluid into the holes made by adult beetles when they leave the timber to mate. This invention was patented in 1948 and sold over a million by the 1950s.
(Left) Promotional leaflet for the Fetcham Injector (early 1950s).
(Right) Rentokil ‘Junior’ Injector for eradicating woodworm (early 1950s).
The rise of British Ratin
Parallel to Rentokil’s growth, another company, British Ratin, was making its mark in pest control. Established in 1927 by Danish company Sophus Berendsen, British Ratin marketed its rodenticide Ratin, which had been discovered by a Danish scientist in 1906. It added insect control to its offering and took over London-based pest control company Chelsea Insecticides in 1941 to increase its range of expertise and treatments.
In 1957, British Ratin and Rentokil joined forces. This strategic move brought together two industry leaders and the company decided to change its name to Rentokil. In December 1960, the new Rentokil was born.
Expanding horizons
Under the Rentokil Group banner, the company embarked on a period of rapid growth and diversification. In 1961, Rentokil made a significant acquisition by purchasing the 61-year-old Scottish company Thomas Harley Ltd. This added Thomas Harley’s proprietary rat poison, Rodine and a moth repellent to Rentokil’s product offerings. The Rodine brand of rodent control products is still in use today, but with a modern formulation.
The company had a factory for manufacturing these products and distribution outlets in 47 countries. Its general manager, Angus Fraser McIntosh worked for Rentokil until his retirement. He served six terms as president of the British Pest Control Association and was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to pest control.
The 1960s saw the new Rentokil expand internationally with its first acquisition in Kenya, followed by 21 countries in Europe, Australasia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. The global expansion continued in the 1970s, with a franchising model in 10 countries and acquisitions in nine countries including, for the first time, several businesses in the United States, the largest pest control market.
Dedication to expertise and service excellence
Rentokil’s commitment to scientific research and development was noticed by the editor of the US trade magazine, Pest Control, who said, “Your company undertakes far more research and has better facilities than any other company I know of.” This commitment was further emphasised in 1969 when a dedicated laboratory wing was established at the Felcourt headquarters for the team of scientists, including biologists, entomologists and chemists.
The company’s work controlling rodents in urban centres in Bahrain was filmed on a home cine camera, showing the power of film in promoting the business. This led to the creation of a Film Unit in 1959, which went on to produce a large number of educational films and award-winning documentaries using pioneering filming techniques.
During the 1970s, Rentokil’s experts also transferred their extensive knowledge into print. They produced a series of technical books, called the Rentokil Library on the biology and control of pests.
2000s: global leadership
Acquisitions have always played an important role in Rentokil’s growth, expanding our global presence into new countries and increasing market shares. Between 2014 and 2023 alone, almost 400 acquisitions were made worldwide. This expansion could not have been successful without the continued emphasis on service excellence and innovation.
Large investments were made in the US, the largest pest control market, including JC Ehrlich, Presto-X and Western Exterminator, making the company the third largest in the US by 2012. Steritech was acquired for US$450m in 2015 and Terminix for US$6.7 billion in 2022. This made Rentokil Initial both No. 1 in the US and the world’s largest pest control company.
Leading in innovation
The company continued to invest in research and development across a wide range of pests. A Global Research and Development Centre was opened in the UK in 2017, with facilities to study pest behaviour and develop and test new products. This was followed in 2024 by the opening of the Rentokil Terminix Innovation Center in Dallas Texas, with scientists specialising in areas such as termites, mosquito management and residential pest control.
A selection of some outstanding products developed over the last few decades include:
- RADAR mouse trap. Launch of the most advanced mouse trap in the world in 2007, which uses CO2 instead of rodenticide.
- Digital systems. In 2014, the company launched the PestConnect system of connected pest control devices with data storage and analysis in a cloud-based system, along with an online pest management system for customers. More connected devices were developed including the Rat Riddance Connect snap trap, Dual Autogate bait box, and the RADAR-X double mouse trap, which was launched in 2024. The system collects vast amounts of data globally, providing an unprecedented resource for improving pest control.
- AI cameras for rodent detection. Further advances were made in rodent detection, integrating a camera with AI to visually identify the presence of rodents. This leap forward in the application of artificial intelligence resulted in the launch of the PestOptix system in 2024.
- UV LED bulbs for fly traps. Following the advent of more efficient LED bulbs, our scientists found that UV LED bulbs could outperform fluorescent UV tubes in both energy savings and effectiveness at attracting flies. They developed the Lumnia range of UV LED insect light traps, and were granted several patents for parts of the design.
Focus on sustainability
For over 20 years, the company has increasingly focused on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into core business operations.
A key highlight is a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, encompassing milestones such as transitioning to an ultra-low-emission fleet and promoting the use of renewable energy. This target is further supported by an Environment Action Plan, structured around three pillars, sustainable solutions, sustainable operations, and sustainable workplace, with eight workstreams guiding specific actions and targets. The company actively measures and reports on various sustainability metrics, including emissions data, waste management and the use of sustainable materials.
In addition, all research and development incorporates sustainability into products as a core factor. This includes finding alternatives to pesticides, developing more energy-efficient products such as the Lumnia insect light trap, increasing the use of recycled plastic, and developing PestConnect, a digital pest control system that optimises treatments and reduces pesticide use.
Conclusion
Rentokil Initial‘s history showcases the power of innovation, a commitment to customer service, and perseverance. Starting from humble beginnings in the 1920s, driven by the vision and dedication of one woman over three decades, the company has grown to become the world’s largest pest control provider. Throughout its journey, Rentokil Initial has consistently aimed to deliver the best products and services to its customers. With a continuous focus on innovation and sustainability, the company is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the pest control industry in the future.