Rentokil promises paradigm shift in pest management
08 August, 2008
Rentokil's global business, besides pest control, includes other services like tropical plants, parcel delivery textiles, and wash room hygiene and facilities
The UK-based $4.6 billion Rentokil, engaged in pest control business in 45 countries for over 80 years, is in India promising a paradigm shift in pest management. The rapid strides in the creation of world-class manufacturing, working and living environment and the entry of major foreign players in various sectors have opened up a big market in the country for scientific and systematic control and management of pests.
"Rentokil has successfully researched and developed a range of techniques to protect health, food and property from pests and rodents in the most effective and environmentally responsible way", Gopi Pillay, regional Director, Asia, and Sam Easaw, managing director, Rentokil India Pvt Ltd, told FE.
They said the current Indian pest control market is estimated to be around Rs 700 crore and "it is growing very fast along with the country's economy".
Rentokil's global business, besides pest control, includes other services like tropical plants, parcel delivery textiles, and washroom hygiene and facilities. in Asia Pacific region the company provides pest control, dust mats, deep cleaning, textiles and washrooms, air quality services, filtered water, IT / office hygiene, tropical plants and electronic safety.
Pillay said with over 5000 employees across 16 countries in Asia, the Asia Pacific turnover was around $336.4 million.
Rentokil, with its India headquarters in Chennai, is targeting a turnover of Rs 300 crore from pest control services by 2012. "The 2008-10 period would be more of an investment and consolidation phase", he said.
"At present the company is on an acquisition, integration and growth model operation. Rentokil will be offering only services and a few niche products now. Studying the market acceptance, the company will consider bringing products and other service offerings to India. For the present the entire focus is on pest control services market where we intend to make a difference, a paradigm shift", Pillay said.
Rentokil has opened regional and local offices in the southern states. "By this year-end we will move to the West and by 2012 we will cover all the regions", Easaw said.
The food industry, the newly created world-class infrastructure facilities including new airports, metro lines, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, IT parks, malls and multiplexes etc are in need of professional pest controllers. Rentokil, with its global expertise, technology, equippment and trained manpower, would be able to meet this demand in a unique, he added. The company was also looking at the residential consumers in a big way, he added.
Easaw said the key differentiators would be the higher service delivery, standardized, eco-friendly and safe-to-humans chemicals, global expertise with knowledge sharing from experience around the world, and end-to-end solution for all pest control problems of the customers.