Rentokil celebrates its 100th anniversary! From its inception to becoming a global leader, let's witness this glorious moment together.

From a small London company dealing with wood-boring beetles to a global leader in pest control, let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at the 100-year history of Rentokil, the brand behind the Rentokil pest control products line.

The birth of a brand

The story begins with Professor Harold Maxwell-Lefroy, a distinguished entomologist who developed a groundbreaking wood treatment to control wood-boring beetles in the roof timbers of the Houses of Parliament in London. As it gained widespread attention, the professor hired an assistant named Bessie Eades. Together, they named the product Rentokil, registered it as a trademark, and began selling it under the "Rentokil" brand in 1925. Tragically, Maxwell-Lefroy died later that year after accidentally inhaling fumes while testing the insecticide. Recognizing the commercial potential of the wood treatment, Bessie Eades purchased the rights to the product from Maxwell-Lefroy's widow and renamed the company Rentokil (Sales) Ltd. in 1928.

Embrace professional knowledge

In 1944, Bessie Eades hired Dr. Normanshkin, an entomologist and excellent communicator. His expertise on wood-boring beetles, combined with his talent for public speaking and writing, played a crucial role in building the Rentokil brand.

Strong alliance

In 1957, Rentokil joined forces with another pest control company, British Ratin, and decided to rename the company Rentokil. In December 1960, the new Rentokil was born.

Expand horizons

Under the Rentokil Group, the company entered a period of rapid development and diversification. In 1961, Rentokil made a major acquisition, acquiring the 61-year-old Scottish company Thomas Harley Ltd. This added the patented rodenticide Rodine and moth repellent to Rentokil's product line. Rodine-branded rodenticides are still in use today, but with modern formulations. With the Rentokil Group's acquisition in Kenya in the 1960s, the company's operations expanded to 21 countries in Europe, Oceania, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. Entering the 1970s, the company continued to expand its global operations, adopting a franchise model in 10 countries and making acquisitions in 9 others.

Committed to professional knowledge and excellent service

In the 1970s, Rentokil's experts also transformed their extensive knowledge into printed materials, compiling a series of technical books on pest biology and control, known as the Rentokil Library.

Global leadership in the 21st century

Acquisitions have consistently played a vital role in Rentokil's development.
Between 2014 and 2023 alone, we made nearly 400 acquisitions globally. The $450 million acquisition of Steritech in 2015 and the $6.7 billion acquisition of Terminix in 2022 have solidified Rentokil Initial's leading position in pest control and propelled its international expansion.

Leading Innovation

Some of the outstanding products developed over the past few decades include, but are not limited to:

Online Pest Management Reporting and Analysis System: myRentokil

As an online pest risk management and communication system designed and created by RentoClean, myRentokil can collect and transmit information and data in real time, effectively promoting pest risk prevention and control, and enabling timely access to the latest pest warnings and dynamics, thereby improving pest risk management throughout the entire supply chain.

UV LED Bulbs for Insect Trapping Lamps

Our scientists have discovered that UV LED bulbs are superior to fluorescent UV lamps in terms of energy efficiency and insect attraction. Based on this discovery, we have developed the Lumnia Bright-Smoke-Tolerant series of insect trapping lamps, and some of the designs have been granted multiple patents.

Focus on sustainability

For over 20 years, the company has increasingly focused on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into its core business operations.
As a global expert in environmental sanitation and pest control, Rentokil Initial has publicly committed to several sustainability goals, a key highlight of which is its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. To support this goal, the company has developed an environmental program around three pillars: sustainable solutions, sustainable operations, and sustainable workplaces.

From 1925 to 2025, Rentokil Initial has achieved steady growth and numerous awards. Rentokil's century-long history fully demonstrates our innovative capabilities, commitment to customer service, and unwavering dedication. From a startup in the 1920s to a leading global supplier of pest control and environmental sanitation, Rentokil Initial has always been committed to providing customers with high-quality products and services. With our continued focus on innovation and sustainability, we are confident in further consolidating and expanding our industry leadership in the future.

To celebrate Rentokil's 100th anniversary, we will be hosting a series of exciting commemorative events this year. This will be a fantastic opportunity to witness our glorious journey and innovative achievements together.
Join us now as we journey through this century with Rentokil and look forward to an even brighter future!
Stay tuned for more event details and to celebrate this important milestone with us!