Rentokil Initial closed its loss-making UK workwear and linen operations at Initial Hygiene UK on 30 April. The UK closure did not affect the company’s linen and workwear operations in continental Europe.
Rentokil’s chief executive, Doug Flynn, said the group had reduced full-year expectations in its textiles and washroom services division due to trading conditions, but that other divisions would show improving profit trends during the second half. He blamed difficult trading conditions, particularly the sluggishness of manufacturing in continental Europe, which he said had reduced demand for services such as the rental of industrial garments. “We expect the second half performance for textiles and washroom services to be broadly flat with the first half”, he said.
