Agserv has announced that it is separating off its wholly owned Rudduck entity to create Rudduck Pty Ltd, a completely independent company which will focus on providing farmers in rural markets with specialist pest control products to keep their farm buildings and residential areas free from pests.
Rudduck is a well-known brand in the Victoria pest control market with a heritage going back over 100 years – pre-dating the well-known Flick pest control business.
In recent years, Rudduck has operated as part of the Agserv group, itself a leading player in the professional pest control market. Rudduck will particularly focus on supporting farmers and the rural market.
With Rudduck already selling a range of trusted pyrethrum-based products and innovative rodent baits, the company is set to expand its product offering to provide the rural market with a range of specialist pest control products and equipment.
Rudduck rodenticide paste is a popular product for professional pest controllers.
Coupled with their significant in-house pest control expertise, the rural market will now have a trusted partner to solve their pest control problems,” said Eris Hess, managing director at Agserve.
“With Agserv very much focused on the professional pest control market, we felt it was important that Rudduck had independence to provide the rural markets with pest control support they need and deserve,” Mr Hess said.
“With more mice plagues and increased insect pressure due to climate change, Rudduck will be entirely focused on supporting rural resellers and farmers with innovative pest control solutions. With our global network of suppliers, we plan to source the best products and bring them to Australia.”
The Rudduck business commenced in 1908 following the arrival in Australia of Dr Harold Rudduck, an English veterinarian.
Shortly after commencing his practice in Melbourne, he started manufacturing products that would solve many of common pest problems found in Australia, from flies and fleas to rodents. With the Rudduck business starting 10 years before Flick, Rudduck was very much involved in the birth of the pest control industry in Australia.
In 1977, Agserv, owned by the Hess family, acquired the Rudduck business. At the time, Rudduck predominately supplied chemical products to the Australian Defence Forces. Over the years Rudduck has developed and manufactured a range of pest control products.
Since 1986, Rudduck has been managed and run completely within Agserv. It has focused solely on the pest control industry through manufacturing, sourcing, developing and distributing pest control products with a specific focus on its range of natural pyrethrum products.
Rudduck Alpha Rapid rodenticide blocks.
The current range of Rudduck products retains professional pyrethrum-based products and adds two novel rodent products, including the fast-acting Alpha Rapid mouse bait, a mouse specific rodent bait with a great safety profile which can control mice overnight.
Rudduck has an ambitious expansion plan and expects the business to grow as it increases its product range by partnering with suppliers keen to provide the rural markets with the latest pest control products.
