The Zep Story

Zep is a leading innovator, producer, and distributor of maintenance and cleaning solutions for retail, food & beverage, industrial & institutional, and vehicle care customers. Zep brings a large portfolio of premium brands built over an 80+ year legacy of developing the most effective products trusted by professionals and consumers to get the job done right the first time.

History and Timeline

1937

In 1937, three entrepreneurs, Mandle Zaban, William Eplan, and Saul Powell founded Zep with a vision of creating value for customers by offering a comprehensive selection of top quality industrial and janitorial cleaning products, delivered with unique chemistry formulations, superior service, and unmatched technical support.

1962

Zep was acquired by National Linen Service Inc. and later became a subsidiary of National Service Industries Inc. ("NSI"), a diversified industrial and service conglomerate.

1968

Zep acquired Selig Chemical Industries, a move that helped to expand the company's chemical portfolio. Selig had built its reputation as the "Solutions People," providing tailored cleaning products and programs to the industrial and institutional markets.

1969-1996

The next several decades ushered in an era of domestic and international expansion for Zep as the company grew organically and through acquisition.

1997

Zep, as a part of NSI, acquired Enforcer Products, Inc., a maker of home and garden products such as insecticides, herbicides, plumbing and cleaning solutions. As a result of the Enforcer acquisition, Zep expanded its presence in the retail channel with the development of the Zep Commercial product line.

2001

Zep, along with NSI's lighting equipment business, were spun off from National Service Industries into a newly formed entity Acuity Brands, Inc.

2007

Zep emerged as an independent, publicly traded company under the name Zep Inc. As an independent company once again, Zep invested in growing the business and acquired world-class brands such as Black Magic®, Blue Coral®, Country Vet®, De.Solv.It®, Enforcer®, Misty®, Mykal™, Niagara™, Original Bike Spirits®, Rexodan, Rain-X®, TimeMist®

2015

Zep Inc. became a private company and now has significant financial and strategic resources to support future growth initiatives which include expansion in existing markets, development of new products, new market opportunities and acquisitions.

2017

In 2017, Zep entered into an agreement to purchase AFCO, a leading specialty chemical and food safety provider serving the food and beverage processing industry. This combination brought together highly complementary portfolios and organizations and enabled both companies to expand service offerings and expertise to their food & beverage processing customers and the broader markets served by the company.

Our Brands