The record wet weather and flooding in many parts of the UK recently has given manufacturers renewed marketing impetus with the increase in sightings of rats and cockroaches as drains and sewers have filled up.

Can the industry use seasonal problems to build up brands in the long term?

The UK market for pest control is highly fragmented, with a large number of manufacturers and service providers active in the sector. Are there opportunities for a greater amalgamation of products and services?

The record wet weather and flooding in many parts of the UK recently has given manufacturers renewed marketing impetus with the increase in sightings of rats and cockroaches as drains and sewers have filled up.

Can the industry use seasonal problems to build up brands in the long term?

The UK market for pest control is highly fragmented, with a large number of manufacturers and service providers active in the sector. Are there opportunities for a greater amalgamation of products and services?

This report looks at the UK market for domestic pest control products and services, and identifies the key factors driving this market. As this is the first time Mintel has reported on the pest control market, historical trends are provided where possible and where information is available.

The market is split between the service side, where consumers contract specialist pest control companies to deal with a particular problem, and the DIY consumer side, where products are purchased for use by the householder. There is inevitably a degree of overlap between these two areas, with domestic customers often able to buy 'professional' pest control products direct from pest control companies for home use, rather than buying from a conventional retail outlet such as a garden centre, DIY shop or hardware store.