Looking Ahead

In comparing the anticipated frequency or type of pest control service for 2021 with that of 2020, most respondents (82%) expect these to continue at about the same rate (Table 11). However, there also were a significant number of respondents who do expect their service to increase somewhat or significantly this year (13%).

This may be due, at least in part, to the 14% who had reduced or temporarily cancelled services during the pandemic reverting to pre-COVID levels once things return (as much as possible) to “normal.” However, with only 79% having stated that the facilities in which they worked saw little to no impact on service during the pandemic, there are likely at least some who reduced services and don’t expect to reinstate them to pre-COVID levels.

But whether service type or frequency was reduced, increased, moved internally or externally, or otherwise changed, the vast majority of respondents (95%) feel that their cockroach programs have been successful, particularly as only 2% believed them to be unsuccessful (Table 12).

About This Survey

Sponsored by Zoëcon, QA’s 2021 State of the Market: Cockroach Control in Food Facilities survey was conducted by Readex Research, a privately held research firm based in Stillwater, Minn. The January 2021 survey sample of food processing managers and executives was systematically selected from the circulation file of Quality Assurance & Food Safety (QA). Data was collected from 242 recipients of QA’s digital magazine and/or e-newsletter at unique U.S. company locations. Of these, 131 work for a company with at least one food/beverage facility and are the basis of this report. The margin of error for percentages is ±8.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Specific results may not add up to 100% due to rounding or the ability to select multiple responses.