Fantastic Services Reports 45% Rise in Preventive Pest-Control Contracts as London Food Businesses Act Earlier on Hygiene Risks

Half of its commercial pest-control enquiries now relate to ongoing prevention, as restaurants, coffee shops, fast food sites and food manufacturers respond to rising pest pressure in redeveloping London areas.

London, UK, Aug. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fantastic Services has experienced a 45% year-on-year increase in preventive commercial pest-control contracts, including both renewed and new agreements and is urging food businesses to take prompt action on pest warnings after recent London enforcement cases showed how rodent activity can lead to fines, closures, hygiene rating damage and consequent reputational harm.

A Fantastic Services pest control technician dispensing preventative treatment in a commercial kitchen.

The figures are based on internal Fantastic Services commercial pest-control contract and enquiry data collected between January and May 2026 and compared with the same period in 2025.

Fantastic Services also identified that 48% of commercial pest-control enquiries now relate to ongoing prevention, including yearly prevention plans, scheduled inspections and long-term monitoring, while the remaining enquiries are mainly reactive and linked to current infestations.

Fantastic Services currently  sees the highest volume of commercial pest-control activity in London  around Stratford, Newham, Wembley Park, and Brent with Canary Wharf, Barking Riverside and Canning Town following closely. The company says major construction, deep excavation and redevelopment work in high-density areas can disturb underground pest harbourage, causing rodents and other pests to seek refuge in nearby commercial and residential properties.

Recent Hygiene Cases Show the Cost of Waiting

The warning by Fantastic Services to act promptly on signs of pests follows recent reports of UK food businesses being fined after inspectors found mouse activity, droppings or contaminated food areas. In one widely reported London case, a bakery was ordered to pay penalties of more than £34,000 after environmental health officers found significant mouse activity and poor hygiene controls. Another reported case saw a pub operator ordered to pay more than £52,000 after mouse droppings were found on kitchen surfaces, equipment and floors.

Fantastic Services says the widespread reporting of such cases shows that pest activity is rarely just a nuisance for food premises. It can become a food safety, legal and brand trust issue.

Pest Control Is Part of Food Hygiene Management

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says food hygiene ratings consider how food is handled, stored and prepared, the cleanliness of facilities and how food safety is managed. During inspections, environmental health officers also assess the physical condition of a business, including pest control.

Ratings range from 5, meaning hygiene standards are very good, to 0, where urgent improvement is required. The FSA also notes that where hygiene standards are very poor and there is an imminent risk to public health, local authorities can act to protect consumers, including stopping part of a business or closing it down until it is safe to reopen.

Fantastic Services says this makes pest prevention especially important for restaurants, cafés, takeaways, food vans, commercial kitchens, chocolate shops, juice manufacturers and storage facilities.

Construction Hotspots Are Increasing Pest Pressure

Construction, mixed-use development and major infrastructure projects are acknowledged to disturb established underground pest harbourage and migration routes, pushing rodents into neighbouring commercial properties. Fantastic Services says the highest volume of commercial pest-control activity maps onto areas where redevelopment activity remains particularly high.

For food businesses, this can create risk even where internal hygiene standards are strong, especially where shared waste areas, drains, service yards and structural entry points are present.

More Businesses Are Choosing Prevention

Fantastic Services data shows many businesses still wait until staff see a mouse, cockroach or fly problem before calling a pest controller. By that point, there may already be droppings, contaminated packaging, hidden harbourage or entry routes that need urgent attention.

However, the company says this behaviour is changing. Preventive commercial pest-control contracts increased by 45% year-on-year, and around half of current commercial enquiries now relate to long-term prevention plans rather than emergency treatment.

“The biggest change we have seen over the last year is that more food businesses are asking for prevention before they have a pest problem,” said Rune Sovndahl, CEO of Fantastic Services. “Historically, most enquiries followed a sighting. Today, many operators want documented monitoring, inspections and prevention measures in place before environmental health officers ever visit. Recent enforcement cases show how quickly pest activity can become a regulatory, financial and reputational issue.”

High-Risk Areas Are Often Behind the Scenes

Fantastic Services says pest activity in food businesses is often found away from customer-facing areas.

Common risk points include bin stores, basements, loading bays, dry goods stores, staff rooms, suspended ceilings, service ducts, drains, gaps around pipes, poorly sealed doors and areas beneath appliances. Food debris, damaged packaging, standing water and warm equipment can all increase risk.

The company advises food businesses to check stock rotation, cleaning under fixed equipment, waste handling, door seals, floor-wall junctions and drain covers. Staff should be trained to report droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks, scratching sounds, unusual smells, damaged packaging or dead insects.

Prevention Contracts Support Inspection Readiness

Fantastic Services data shows planned commercial pest control is increasingly being used strategically by food businesses as part of wider inspection readiness.

Commercial pest-control reports can document findings, treatments, products used and recommendations for prevention. This can help managers demonstrate that action has been taken, especially where premises have recurring structural risks or are located near construction, railway lines, older buildings, shared service yards or neighbouring food outlets.

Fantastic Services offers free site inspections for commercial properties requiring pest prevention, monitoring, proofing and treatment programmes, book now via: https://www.fantasticservices.com/commercial/pest-control/ or on 020 4525 3292.

About Fantastic Services

Fantastic Services is a commercial pest-control specialist serving businesses and managed properties across London and the UK. Its dedicated team delivers discreet pest prevention, inspection, treatment and ongoing management for restaurants, cafés, takeaways, hotels, offices, warehouses, healthcare facilities, schools, retail premises, charities, embassies and commercial property portfolios.

Services include rodent and insect control, heat treatments, bird control, pest proofing and integrated pest management. Same-day and next-day appointments, emergency callouts, planned pest-control contracts, free surveys for larger commercial premises and detailed written reports are available to support compliance, audits and long-term prevention.

A Fantastic Services pest control technician inspecting a commercial kitchen.

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