Case Studies

With more than a century serving commercial customers, Orkin has the expertise and national resources to meet any pest management need. But don’t take our word for it. Here are just a few stories that spotlight our successful partnerships with customers in a variety of industries.

2008 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

2006 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

2005 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

2004 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

For Illinois school districts, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) isn’t just a suggestion, it’s the law. In 2000, Illinois chose to support stricter school pest management when the state passed a law requiring each school to adopt and implement an IPM program. Amboy Community School District in Amboy, Ill., partnered with Orkin to establish a proactive IPM program that focuses on preventive solutions before turning to chemical applications.

"We chose Orkin for a lot of reasons, starting with their well-known name and long history in the pest control business, but we also liked the fact that Orkin has a lot of experience serving schools like ours."

Amboy Schools

Since 1906, Spangler Candy Company has manufactured and marketed some of the most notable candy products around, including Dum Dum Pops®, Saf-T-Pops® and Spangler® Candy Canes. Because Spangler must be diligent about food safety and quality, the company turned to Orkin and have been extremely pleased with the switch to Orkin’s Gold Medal Protection.

“The thoroughness that Orkin goes through in their service is unparalleled. I’ve been working around the pest control industry for almost 30 years, and I know what we need. Orkin provides all that, and more.”

Spangler Candy Company

With a 420,000 square-foot plant, more than 400 employees and 100 incoming shipments each day, Golden Cheese Company of California relies on Orkin Commercial Services’ various layers of quality assurance to keep pests out of the facility. The partnership ensures that Golden Cheese passes weekly quality assurance audits by customers.

“Orkin has taken the worry and frustration out of our plant inspections. They know how to communicate with our staff, document pest-related information and most importantly, keep pests out of our facility.”

Golden Cheese Company of California

Award-winning Atlanta restaurant La Tavola is known for its atmosphere, great food and excellent service. Behind the scenes, La Tavola partners with Orkin Commercial Services to help keep its pest management program running as smoothly as the rest of its business.

“We’re a success-driven company, and the partnership we established with Orkin is based on that same mindset. It is comforting to know that our pest management provider approaches their business the same way we approach ours.”

La Tavola Video Case Study

La Tavola

Many schools are “going green” to make operations more sustainable and create a healthier learning environment for children. Georgia’s Cobb County School District (CCSD) partnered with Orkin to implement an environmentally responsible pest management protocol that would keep pests in their place and improve environments for students, faculty and staff.

“[Orkin] supports our mission to implement environmentally friendly maintenance practices in our schools, and we could not be more pleased by their quality service and customer care.”

Cobb County School District - Atlanta, GA

Since 1986, The Atlanta Children’s Shelter has provided a caring environment and support services for homeless families striving for self-sufficiency. Given the sensitive environment, the Shelter sought a pest control provider that would minimize chemical usage at their facility. They turned to Orkin for a pest control partnership focusing on prevention and strong communication – creating a safe home for children, not pests.

“Orkin’s responsiveness is extremely important to us and shows just how much they value our business.”

Atlanta Children's Shelter - Atlanta, GA

As a leader in upscale New York real estate, Nigro Companies expects consistent, reliable pest control service at all of its office and retail properties. Orkin exceeds Property Manager Jamie Margelot’s expectations, providing “first-class service” and an unmatched service guarantee.

“Orkin stands out from other companies because their response time is almost immediate and the pest specialist services each property as if he were servicing his own home.”

Nigro Companies - Upstate New York

As an established upscale restaurant with a 50-year history, it's no wonder that The Angus Barn Ltd. adheres to a strict zero tolerance policy when it comes to pests. Facility Manager Greg Aardal relies on Orkin Commercial Services to protect the restaurant's positive reputation. The result of their partnership has been consistent improvement on the restaurant's health inspection scores.

“We are in a customer-focused, service-oriented industry, and Orkin has continuously demonstrated an extensive knowledge of our needs.”

Angus Barn - Raleigh, North Carolina

Providing effective pest management services in a nursing and rehabilitation facility requires an understanding of the highly sensitive health care environment. After two national pest control companies failed to deliver, Regents Park at Aventura turned to Orkin Commercial Services for help. Orkin met the challenge and provided effective and consistent results.

“We recently concluded an important yearly survey where we passed everything, including our pest management program, with above average scores. I am pleased to express our customer satisfaction with the entire Orkin organization and highly recommend their services.”

Regents Park at Aventura

Given Sparrow Hospital's strong commitment to green cleaning, it comes as no surprise that the Lansing, Mich. hospital values a pest management company that can contribute to their overall goal of becoming 100 percent green. Sparrow partnered with Orkin Commercial Services to implement a greener approach to pest management, contributing to the hospital's repeated recognition for environmentally responsible health care.

"Orkin does a great job of communicating with various departments in the hospital to make sure that the pest management program is exceeding our expectations."

Sparrow Hospital

When you're preparing for your five-year inspection by The Joint Commission, the last thing you want to worry about is pests. That's why Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital turned to Orkin Commercial Services. The nationally recognized hospital knew they could rely on Orkin to help prepare them for the inspection and protect their patients' safety every day.

"Orkin worked closely with the environmental services staff to make sure everything was in perfect working order leading up to the inspection."

Piedmont Hospital

To make sure that patrons are focusing on his culinary creations and not pest sightings, Ecco Executive Chef Micah Willix works with Orkin to implement a stringent Integrated Pest Management program. The latest from Atlanta's Fifth Group Restaurants, Ecco relies on communication and partnership with Orkin for pest control success.

"Our partnership with Orkin contributes to an overall superior dining experience for our customers by helping ensure food safety and a pest-free meal."

Ecco

When you manufacture, store or sell food that consumers eat, you know that food safety is critical. Orkin is proud to partner with food processors, distributors and national retailers throughout the supply chain to implement consistent and reliable pest control programs. Working together, we help keep consumers' food safe each step of the way.

Orkin and the Food Supply Chain

Glens Falls Hospital is the sole, comprehensive, acute-care community hospital serving a 2,600-square-mile region of upstate New York. The 410-bed facility implemented Orkin's Gold Medal Protection for Health Care in August 2006, taking yet another step toward greener operations and helping the facility earn an "H2E Partner" designation just two months later.

"Orkin's goal is to keep pests out before they can cause a problem. You can measure our success in terms of the number of staff calls to report pest sightings, and I am not getting any staff calls now."

Glens Falls Hospital

Managing a popular eatery in Atlanta is challenging enough without adding pest problems and slippery floors to the mix. At South City Kitchen Vinings, Orkin helped Manager Phil Rugari take a few things off his plate by introducing OE-30, an organic drain cleaner. Phil was more than pleased with the results.

"OE-30 is nothing less than amazing."

South City Kitchen Vinings

GoodHeart became an Orkin Gold Medal Protection customer in 2003. According to Food Safety and Quality Assurance Consultant Jeffrey Bryan, his investment has paid off - with five perfect pest control audit scores and GoodHeart Brands' recognition in 2006 as one of the top 1% of companies audited by Silliker Laboratories.

"...not only am I 100% happy with the Gold Medal program, I am pleased to recommend this program to anyone who takes pest control as seriously as I do. Although I have entertained bids that may be slightly less in monthly service charges, I would never risk losing the confidence I have in my service in exchange for chasing a few dollars."

GoodHeart Brands

Millions of people visit zoos and aquariums every year to see gorillas, elephants, seal lions and whales - not rats, mice, roaches and ants. Orkin works with entomologists, safety specialists, and veterinary and pathology staffs at some of the nation's most renowned zoos and aquariums to develop creative solutions for unique pest control challenges.

Zoo and Aquarium Pest Control

3,400 staff members, 600,000 square feet of resort and casino space, and nine dining venues are just a few of the reasons this 400-room, southern-California resort turns to Orkin for pest control. Despite the grand scale of the current program, the relationship actually started simply -- with wasps.

"First it was wasps and flies, now it's a full-blown program for our entire facility. Our Orkin technician has really become like a staff member and that makes a big difference."

Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino

Pest control in the meat-processing environment can be a thorny issue. The conventional approach of zapping unwanted critters with a pesticide is the least satisfactory of all solutions. No food plant wants to introduce extraneous chemicals on premises unless absolutely necessary.

"If you don't give pests a reason to be there, they shouldn't come in."

Mims Meat Company

Fruit flies or cockroaches are particularly hard to control in foodservice environments because they are drawn to the grease and decaying food debris often left behind by even the most rigorous cleaning.

"We needed something simple that could be used as a part of our daily sanitation process to make our kitchen as clean and pest-unfriendly as possible."

Catering by George

When Fruit Growers Supply Company, which supplies cartons to fruit packinghouses in California and Arizona, decided to add AIB audits to their quality assurance program, they knew they would need extensive pest-management documentation to meet AIB's strict standards.

"Orkin's electronic monitoring and documentation program is the tool we needed to accurately track our pest management program across seasons, products and numerous areas within our facility. Our perfect pest-control score on the AIB audit speaks to the success of our partnership with Orkin."

Fruit Growers Supply Company

2008 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

As one of the leading independent foodservice distributors in the country, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc. supplies frozen foods, dry groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables to foodservice operations in 37 states from 10 distribution centers. With such an expansive logistical network, it’s no wonder why Maines’ corporate headquarters in Conklin, N.Y. relies on Orkin to set the standard for pest management excellence.

"Orkin provides our management team, employees and internal licensed inspector with the guidance needed to maintain a pest-free facility."

Maines Paper & Food Service

As one of the leading manufacturers of nested paperboard cartons for the foodservice industry, Ample Industries, Inc. knows that consumers don’t expect pests to be part of the package. Ample utilizes Orkin’s Gold Medal Protection to help keep their facility pest free and their audit scores high.

"Partnering with Orkin Commercial Services and adhering to the high IPM standards they represent helps us to achieve our goals."

Ample Industries

Ball Corporation, a leading supplier of rigid metal packaging products, also leads the industry in the area of IPM. Supplying food containers mainly to the salmon canning industries, the plant has partnered with Orkin PCO Services since 1995 to uphold its tradition for producing safe, quality products.

"The Gold Medal Protection program helps us to achieve our goals for product safety as well as our customers’ goals for food safety."

Ball Corporation

Since 1967, Danone has built a reputation as a leader in the fresh dairy industry by following its mission to provide Canadians with superior quality brands. In 2003, Danone turned to another company with a mission to maintain high quality standards: Orkin PCO Services. Since then, Orkin PCO Services and Danone have worked together to uphold the requirements of the company’s certified-organic facility in Boucherville, Quebec.

"Gold Medal Protection is like an insurance policy – it helps us ensure the safety of our products."

Danone

As one of Durango, Colorado’s most prominent downtown landmarks, the historic Strater Hotel is known for world-class accommodations and hospitality. To deliver five-star customer service, the establishment partners with Orkin Commercial Services to ensure that its pest management program runs smoothly.

"The benefit of working with Orkin is that it allows our staff to concentrate on maintaining a superior lodging experience. They are competent, detail-oriented and reasonably priced. Overall, Orkin is doing a great job."

Strater Hotel

2007 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

As a company with a strict zero-tolerance policy against pests, Jones Packaging takes pride in their relationship with Orkin Canada. But their partnership goes deeper than standard pest control service. Currently, Jones Packaging and Orkin are working together on an initiative that will provide greater food-safety standards for the entire packaging industry.

“Our customers have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to pest issues, so we rely on Orkin’s Gold Medal Protection program to help us meet and exceed their requirements.”

Jones Packaging - London, Ontario, Canada

With quarterly inspections by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Neilson Dairy is committed to making all sanitation-related items a priority, especially pest control. That’s why Neilson Dairy partners with Orkin Canada. The detailed documentation provided by Gold Medal Protection continuously impresses Neilson’s customers and auditors.

“We receive yearly audits from some of our major customers, and one auditor was quite impressed with the way we were documenting – he said it was a really strong system.”

Neilson Dairy - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for bakery goods, Maidstone Bakeries applies the same dedication to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that they do to their products. Working with Orkin Canada since 2002, Maidstone Bakeries received its second Gold Medal IPM Partner Award in 2007.

"Thanks to our partnership with Orkin, we now have more control over the plant’s surrounding environment and are able to quickly and effectively employ corrective actions for any issues.”

Maidstone Bakeries - Brantford, Ontario, Canada

The nation's leading producer of salt, Morton Salt Company has been an Orkin Gold Medal Protection Customer since 2005. Morton Salt takes pest management seriously, responding quickly to Orkin's recommendations and highlighting employee training.

"Our partnership with Orkin enables us to be successful on our audits. In fact, we received a perfect score on our American Institute of Baking audit this year."

Morton Salt Company - Hutchinson, Kansas

A manufacturer and distributor of specialty food ingredients, Farbest Brands is no stranger to frequent, in-depth audits. An Orkin partner since 1997, Farbest Brands relies on their Orkin Man to implement a proactive approach to pest management.

"Our relationship with Orkin has grown over the past decade by continuously becoming more in-depth and more collaborative. Our Orkin pest specialist has become an integral part of our staff."

Farbest Brands - Plain City, Ohio

For Case Farms, a fully integrated poultry farming and processing company, prevention is the key to audit success. An Orkin partner since 2005, Case Farms relies on Gold Medal Protection to adhere to strict USDA guidelines.

"There is nothing that Orkin will let slip by."

Case Farms - Winesburg, Ohio

2006 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

A state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for bakery goods, Maidstone Bakeries applies the same dedication to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that they do to their products. Working with Orkin Canada since 2002, Maidstone Bakeries requires each new employee to undergo IPM training provided by Orkin experts. Their commitment to staff involvement resulted in a perfect pest control audit score on their most recent audit.

"We've formed a great partnership with [Orkin Canada Pest Specialist] Todd MacMillan. Todd works closely with me and my team to respond to anything we need and offer his own recommendations. I appreciate his timeliness, excellent paperwork and the great partnership we've formed."

Maidstone Bakeries - Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Since 2004, Orkin has partnered with Ample Industries, the leading supplier of nested paperboard cartons to the restaurant and foodservice industries. With an emphasis on sanitation and communication, Orkin and Ample Industries have achieved audit success, earning Ample Industries a perfect score on the pest control section of their most recent American Institute of Baking (AIB) audit.

"We have benefited greatly from our association with Orkin and implementation of its IPM service and systems. Our facility is pest-free as a result of the high quality pest control service that Orkin provides. Thanks to their good work, we can assure our customers that our products are sanitary and absolutely free of contamination by rodents, insects or other pests."

Ample Industries - Franklin, Ohio

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Incorporated provides more than 50 varieties of its signature cheesecakes and other baked desserts to The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, as well as a variety of products to the wholesale club segment, retail markets and foodservice distributors. Partners since 2003, Orkin and The Cheesecake Factory Bakery emphasize employee training as part of the IPM program.

"We have high expectations that Orkin will continually use their knowledge in pest elimination and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to service our needs. They have met our challenges and partnered with us to consistently maintain a pest-free environment."

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Incorporated

The best-selling brand of chocolate in the natural foods category, Endangered Species Chocolate donates ten percent of net profits to conservation organizations. Working with Orkin since 2005, Endangered Species responds immediately to Orkin's sanitation and maintenance recommendations.

"Endangered Species Chocolate has formed a solid working relationship with the Orkin representatives who service our facility," said Endangered Species Chocolate Project Manager Bruce Babcock. "Working together, we have established open and honest communication that is respected by Orkin and Endangered Species Chocolate. This communication has resulted in an effective pest control program that fulfills our needs with continued success. We are pleased to be part of the Gold Medal program and appreciate that Orkin continues to provide support and excellent service."

Endangered Species Chocolate (Indianapolis, Ind.)

The nation's leading marketer and distributor of natural, organic, specialty, ethnic and gourmet food products, Tree of Life has been an Orkin partner since 2003. Tree of Life takes pest management seriously, conducting a "3-D" daily sanitation audit and soliciting Orkin's counsel during its transition to a different auditor.

"Since partnering with Orkin Commercial Services, Tree of Life Midwest has received perfect scores in the pest management categories of many external and internal audits of the facility. Our successful IPM partnership and a dedication by all the warehouse employees have allowed us to achieve excellence in all aspects of pest control."

Tree of Life - Bloomington, Ind.

For 30 years, Orkin Canada has partnered with Ganong Bros. Limited, Canada's oldest chocolate confectioner. With an emphasis on sanitation and proactively identifying areas of concern, Orkin and Ganong Bros. employ a preventive approach to pest management.

"[Orkin Canada Pest Specialist] Phillips Merrithew is a huge help with identifying areas of concern. We approach pest control as a team effort with a total factory commitment to partnership with Quality Assurance, and Orkin Canada has shown us dedicated service and support."

Ganong Bros. Limited - St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada

A processor and marketer of superior seafood and frozen pasta products in North America, High Liner Foods Inc. is committed to food safety and managing pests with the least harm to the environment. Their quick responsiveness to Orkin Canada's recommendations helped earn the 19-year partner a perfect pest control score on their most recent audit.

"We really appreciate Orkin Canada's practical recommendations and availability. It makes them a great partner. When we have situations that need immediate attention, Orkin is always reachable via phone or email. Their response time is top-notch - I usually get an answer back in minutes."

High Liner Foods Inc. - Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada

2005 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

Sara Lee's 87,000 square-foot coffee manufacturing plant in Harahan, La., is focused on maintaining the highest standards in all aspects of operation - including pest management. With Indian meal moths posing a year-round threat and other pest populations exploding during hurricane season, the plant needed a pest management provider that shared its passion for being the best. Orkin answered the call.

"Orkin has been a committed partner through all the trials of the past year, and they continue to help us pursue pest control perfection."

Sara Lee

Knouse Foods is one of the world's largest apple processors. The company's naturally sugary products make its facilities very attractive to a wide variety of pests. But Orkin's customized IPM training for Knouse employees helps Knouse keep pests out with no pesticide sprays.

"We are honored to be recognized with this prestigious IPM award from Orkin and The IPM Institute of North America. IPM is a driving force in the way we do business."

Knouse Foods

In 2005, Tree of Life's Midwest Distribution Center in Bloomington, Ind. became the first facility to win a Gold Medal IPM Partner award for two consecutive years. The IPM program in place at this marketer and distributor of natural and organic foods meets and exceeds requirements set forth by the USDA's National Organic Program. Dave Boyer, Director of Operations at Tree of Life Midwest, attributes the facility's accomplishments to "the hard work and dedication of all Tree of Life Midwest daily activities, we have been able to achieve great success in this area."

Tree of Life

AgraWest Foods' agricultural setting and steady shipments of raw materials increases the plant's susceptibility to pest infestations. But with employee education, AgraWest Foods produces dehydrated potato products in an environment that is virtually pest-free.

"Orkin has helped our employees understand that even the smallest things, like keeping doors shut and cleaning up spills quickly, can make a huge difference in pest control."

AgraWest Foods, Ltd.

Keeping pests out of a 44,000 square-meter giant like Schneider Foods' Kitchener plant could be daunting, especially with 1,100 employees coming and going every day. But Schneider's commitment to IPM and constantly improving operational standards help Orkin do just that.

"The success of Schneider Foods' IPM program relies on a shared understanding of the program and on cooperation from both Schneider Foods and Orkin."

Schneider Foods

Packaging for food products must be safe and pest-free. That's why Smurfit-MBI elects to maintain AIB certification. And, with Orkin's help, they exceed it. On their last AIB and internal audits, Smurfit-MBI achieved perfect pest control scores.

"Our pest control program is so successful because we can work very closely with Orkin. When our Orkin technician is making his rounds, I rely on him for suggestions on anything from pest control to employee safety. It is this communication and cooperation that is beneficial to both companies."

Smurfit-MBI

2004 Gold Medal IPM Partner Award Winners

Orkin Commercial Services' partnership with Monsanto began more than a decade ago, and from the start, Orkin's horticulture expert has worked closely with Monsanto's plant growth manager to develop a customized treatment program that would effectively protect the company's products from pests without compromising safety and quality.

"Orkin has sustained an exceptionally high-quality horticultural pest control program for the last 14 years. I continue to be very pleased with their commitment and results."

Monsanto Company - St. Louis, Mo.

In the interest of food safety, The Denver Safeway Milk Plant needed a reliable pest management program that would keep pests - and the diseases they carry - away from production lines using least-toxic methods.

"Orkin has made pest control hassle-free, and provides us with detailed documentation, which I appreciate."

The Denver Safeway Milk Plant - Denver, Co.

The ongoing partnership between Orkin and Temple-Inland is one rich in success. The 2004 audit marked the 10th straight inspection in which Temple-Inland scored a "Superior" ranking from AIB.

"Temple-Inland's quality assurance managers know how important it is to be a partner in the IPM process. That kind of active participation is a major reason their pest management program has been so successful."

Temple-Inland Paperboard and Packaging - Columbus, Ohio

When Tree of Life's Gourmet Award Foods Midwest facility received audit deductions due to pest management problems and poor documentation, they quickly determined that the potential cost of losing a customer relationship was far greater than the cost of effective pest prevention. So, they called Orkin.

"Orkin spent a great deal of time with us to make sure everything was perfect. By adopting their proactive pest prevention and sanitation program and implementing their recommendations, we passed our annual food safety audit with flying colors, earning a perfect pest control score."

Tree of Life/Gourmet Award Foods Midwest - Indianapolis, Ind.