Rentokil Initial raises the bar for hygiene standards

Since your company’s arrival in Vietnam in 2007, how has Rentokil Initial established its brand in the local market? Also, what makes you different from other pest control and hygiene service providers?

Rentokil Initial is an international business providing route-based services that protect people and enhance lives. Our services include pest control, hygiene, workwear, and plants. We currently operate in 63 countries, and as of the end of 2014 we were employing some 29,000 people. Throughout the world, the demand for higher standards in public health, stricter food safety legislation, and compliance with workplace safety regulations are driving the demand for our service expertise.

In March 2014, our Signature range of hygiene products received its second international award for product design excellence. Previous winners of the Red Dot Design Award – an internationally-recognised product accolade – include Mercedes Benz, Bosch, and Apple. We also launched the “Hygiene Connect” hand washing compliance system. It establishes good hygiene practices throughout organisations, and reduces the risk of infection being passed from person to person. As a result, fewer days are lost to sickness, which translates directly into real cost savings and improved productivity.

Here in Vietnam, we introduced our Rentokil Initial Brand in 2007 with two key services: Pest Control and Hygiene (including premium scenting). Rentokil Initial is an international services business, but with a local focus on route-based efficiency, delivering high-quality technical training and outstanding service quality.

Rentokil Initial currently has three branches in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. We have service technicians available in most areas of Vietnam, with plans to open additional branches by end of 2016.

How important is pest control and hygiene service to each business?

Hygiene, generally, and pest control in particular, should be a priority for any business. Any issues related to pest infestations and hygiene deficiencies can do damage to a company’s property as well as its reputation, so it is so important to have a pest control and hygiene plan in place. However, a pest and hygiene management programme is only good as good as the company providing the service. Therefore, it’s essential to choose the right partner.

With pest control, you should go with a partner who has a proactive and comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme. This is the first principle for Rentokil Pest Control. We are committed to forging a partnership with customers to help maintain a safe environment through effective implementation of the pest control process.

How do you compete with domestic pest control and hygiene service providers, given that such services are much cheaper here than overseas?

Our services help to protect people from risks associated with pest-borne disease, through integrated pest management solutions and hygiene awareness in the business community and at home. We aim to enhance lives with services that protect the health and wellbeing of people as well as the reputation of our customers’ brands. Our values are Service, Relationships, and Teamwork. We articulate our strategy as the right people, doing the right things, in the right way. This is in line with our core competencies of expertise delivered through our people, service category leadership, and highly-efficient lean operations. Our key points of differentiation include our brand strength, international reach, innovative products, and an operating model that allows us to deliver our collective expertise through our front-line service colleagues. This is complemented by our investment in information technology which enables us to serve customers better, faster, and more efficiently than other providers of such services.

What are your targeted sectors?

Our Rentokil Initial brand serves all sectors in Vietnam, including food processing, hotels and resorts, office buildings, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, food and beverage chains, and residential premises. Rentokil Initial is raising the standards of hygiene, especially in these key sectors. With the market opening up for foreign investment, hygiene standard expectations will rise higher. Market pressure will insist on a professional company to deliver these standards, and this is where Rentokil Initial’s wide range of hygiene product solutions comes in.

Are you planning to expand your presence here? If so, what is your expansion strategy?

Our sales strategy is to build leading market positions in the key cities across Vietnam, which we identify as having the best opportunities for our pest control and hygiene businesses.

We will focus on increasing our market share and developing our existing customer base, while filling in the gaps in our geographic footprint through organic and acquisitive growth. In addition, we will maintain our expert level of services, focusing on retaining existing customers, aggressive cost management, and enhancing productivity and efficiency.