Zep
A cleaning and maintenance products company serving industrial, institutional, food-service, vehicle-care, and retail customers.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Zep is an Atlanta-based manufacturer and marketer of cleaning, sanitation, maintenance, and specialty chemical products. Although the name is also used on consumer cleaning products, the company’s core business is broader than household care: it supplies industrial and institutional users, food and beverage processors, vehicle-care operators, commercial facilities, and retail customers. Its portfolio has included more than 80 brands, spanning detergents, degreasers, disinfectants, restroom and facility-care products, vehicle-wash chemicals, pest-control and home-care products, and sanitation systems for food processing. The business began in 1937 when Mandle Zaban, William Eplan, and Saul Powell established a company focused on industrial and janitorial cleaning formulations. Early differentiation rested on promoting proprietary product formulations and maintaining close, hands-on relationships with customers. National Linen Service acquired Zep in 1962 and subsequently changed its corporate name to National Service Industries, or NSI, as the parent company broadened beyond linen services. Erwin Zaban, the son of co-founder Mandle Zaban, remained involved after the acquisition and later became NSI’s president. Harry Maziar, who had joined the organization as a sales agent, eventually became Zep’s president and chief executive officer and led the business for 27 years. During the late twentieth century, Zep operated as the chemical division and principal chemical identity within NSI. Acquisitions expanded its capabilities and geographic reach. Selig Chemical Industries joined the business in 1968, followed by additional purchases during the 1970s and 1980s. NSI added the Graham Group and Kleen Canada in 1992, then acquired Enforcer Products and Pure Corporation in 1997. Enforcer brought pet-care, pesticide, and household-cleaner products and helped move the company into retail chemicals, including the development of the Zep Commercial line. Corporate ownership changed several times in the 2000s. NSI separated its chemical and lighting businesses in 2001 through a transaction that created the publicly traded company later known as Acuity Brands. In 2007, Acuity Specialty Products, the chemical division, was separated again and became Zep, Inc. as an independent public company. Zep then expanded through the acquisitions of Waterbury Companies and Amrep in 2010 and Ecolab’s vehicle-care division in 2012. In 2015, New Mountain Capital agreed to acquire Zep for approximately $460 million and take it private; the transaction received unanimous board approval and strong stockholder support. The company continued to broaden its professional portfolio after going private. In 2017, it acquired AFCO, a supplier of sanitation and safety products for food-processing operations. This created a dedicated food-and-beverage business alongside its retail, industrial and institutional, and vehicle-care categories. Dan Smytka became chief executive officer in 2019, followed by Amy Hahn in 2022. In July 2025, Los Angeles-based private-equity firm Truelink Capital Management acquired Zep. Zep’s current operating model combines branded chemical products with dispensing equipment, technical guidance, training, and service programs. Its vehicle-care business developed the Assure Program for car-wash operators, while a broader Zep Assure biosafety program launched in 2021 to help organizations manage cleaning and sanitation. The company also participated in pandemic-response initiatives, including supplying sanitizer and safety materials to Atlanta Public Schools. Zep maintains manufacturing and selling operations in the United States, Canada, and Europe and serves customers through brands including Zep, Zep Professional, Country Vet, TimeMist, Misty, Enforcer, Original Bike Spirits, Niagara National, AFCO, and Thonhauser.
History
Zep was founded in 1937 in the United States by Mandle Zaban, William Eplan, and Saul Powell. Its original business centered on industrial and janitorial cleaning products. The company sought to distinguish itself through specialized formulations and direct, practical customer service, an approach that helped establish the Zep name in professional cleaning markets. National Linen Service acquired Zep in 1962. Soon afterward, the parent company adopted the name National Service Industries, reflecting a broader corporate portfolio. Erwin Zaban, son of co-founder Mandle Zaban, remained with the business after the acquisition and later became president of NSI in 1966. Harry Maziar, initially hired as a sales agent by Zaban, rose through the organization and became Zep’s president and chief executive officer in 1971. He served in that leadership role for 27 years during a period of significant expansion. For much of the late twentieth century, Zep functioned as NSI’s chemical division. It acquired Selig Chemical Industries in 1968 and completed additional smaller acquisitions during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, NSI added the Graham Group, then described as one of Europe’s largest specialty chemical manufacturers, as well as Kleen Canada. Further expansion came in 1997 through the acquisitions of Enforcer Products and Pure Corporation. Enforcer’s pet-care, pesticide, and household-cleaner products gave Zep a stronger presence in retail chemicals and supported the later development of the Zep Commercial product line. In 2001, NSI separated its chemical and lighting divisions into a new publicly traded company. The entity was initially incorporated as L&C Spinco and was renamed Acuity Brands later that year. After restructuring and further corporate reorganization, Acuity Specialty Products, the chemical division, was spun off in 2007 as Zep, Inc. The new independent company included the Zep, Zep Commercial, Enforcer, and Selig brands. Zep expanded its platform through several acquisitions. In 2010, it purchased Waterbury Companies and Amrep. In 2012, it acquired Ecolab’s vehicle-care division, strengthening its position in car-wash and vehicle-maintenance chemicals. A 2014 fire occurred at an Amrep manufacturing facility in Marietta, Georgia. The incident caused no reported deaths or injuries, and air-quality testing by the Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the fire’s fumes were not toxic. Georgia environmental authorities nevertheless concluded that chemical runoff and firefighting foam likely contributed to a fish kill in downstream Sope Creek. The incident also renewed attention to historical safety and environmental concerns associated with the facility that predated Zep’s ownership. In April 2015, New Mountain Capital agreed to acquire Zep for approximately $460 million. Zep’s board approved the transaction unanimously, and shareholders voted in favor of the merger in June. The deal closed in July, ending Zep’s period as a publicly traded independent company. Zep continued to expand its professional categories while privately held. In July 2017, it acquired AFCO, a company making sanitation and safety products for food-processing customers. This created a more substantial food-and-beverage business alongside Zep’s retail, industrial and institutional, and vehicle-care operations. Dan Smytka became CEO in September 2019, and Amy Hahn was appointed CEO in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zep promoted products identified as effective against the virus and used its vehicle-care Assure framework as the basis for a broader sanitation and biosafety offering. The Zep Assure program, launched in 2021, combined cleaning products with consultation and training intended to help businesses implement sanitation procedures. Zep also formed community partnerships, including with Atlanta Public Schools, supplying hand sanitizer, classroom materials, safety kits, and hygiene education during the return to in-person learning. By 2025, Zep employed more than 1,400 people according to the cited company history and operated selling, market, and manufacturing organizations across North America and Europe. Its named brands included Zep, Zep Professional, Country Vet, TimeMist, Misty, Enforcer, Original Bike Spirits, Niagara National, AFCO, and Thonhauser. In July 2025, Truelink Capital Management acquired Zep, making it the company’s private-equity owner. Zep’s business remains focused on formulated cleaning and maintenance chemistry, supported by equipment, service, training, and sector-specific programs.
- 2025
Truelink Capital Management acquires Zep
[1]Truelink Capital Management becomes Zep’s private-equity owner in July 2025.
- 2021
Zep Assure biosafety program launched
[1]Zep extends its vehicle-care sanitation framework into a broader program for organizational cleaning, training, and biosafety management.
- 2017
AFCO acquired
[1]The acquisition adds food-processing sanitation and safety products to Zep’s portfolio.
- 2015
Zep is taken private
[1]New Mountain Capital completes its acquisition of Zep following board and shareholder approval.
- 2012
Ecolab vehicle-care division acquired
[1]Zep enters a larger vehicle-care position by acquiring Ecolab’s vehicle-care division.
- 2010
Waterbury Companies and Amrep acquired
[1]Zep expands its specialty-products platform through two acquisitions.
- 2007
Zep, Inc. becomes independent
[1]Acuity Specialty Products is spun off as Zep, Inc., including the Zep, Zep Commercial, Enforcer, and Selig brands.
- 2001
Chemical division separated into Acuity Brands
[1]NSI spins off its chemical and lighting divisions into a new publicly traded company later named Acuity Brands.
- 1997
Enforcer Products and Pure Corporation acquired
[1]The acquisitions strengthen Zep’s retail chemical presence and contribute to the development of Zep Commercial.
- 1968
Selig Chemical Industries joins the chemical division
[1]NSI expands its chemical operations through the acquisition of Selig Chemical Industries.
Products and positioning
A professional and industrial cleaning-solutions provider positioned around specialized formulations, broad chemical-brand coverage, customer service, dispensing systems, and operational support for commercial users.
Professional cleaning and maintenance chemicals · 1937
Zep
The core Zep brand covers formulated cleaning, degreasing, maintenance, restroom-care, odor-control, disinfecting, and sanitation products. It serves commercial, industrial, institutional, and selected retail users. The brand is associated with professional-use chemistry and is commonly supported by application guidance, dispensing equipment, and facility-maintenance programs rather than being limited to a single household product category.
Professional facility-care products
Zep Professional
Zep Professional represents products and solutions intended for professional cleaning and facility-maintenance applications. Its scope includes chemicals used in institutional and commercial environments, where customers may require repeatable dilution, dispensing, sanitation procedures, and operational support. The line reflects Zep’s emphasis on supplying systems for workplace and facility care rather than only individual consumer-packaged products.
Retail and commercial cleaning products · 1997
Zep Commercial
Zep Commercial is the company’s retail-oriented professional cleaning line. It developed after Zep’s expansion into retail chemicals through Enforcer Products and related acquisitions. The line brings professional-style cleaners and maintenance products to retail and small-business customers, bridging Zep’s industrial formulation heritage with packaged products intended for more accessible purchase and use.
Pest control and household chemicals
Enforcer
Enforcer was acquired by NSI’s chemical division in 1997. Its portfolio historically included pet-care products, home pesticides, and household cleaners. The brand helped Zep establish a stronger retail chemical presence and contributed to the company’s broader consumer-facing assortment alongside its industrial and institutional products.
Food-processing sanitation
AFCO
AFCO supplies sanitation and safety products for food and beverage processing operations. Zep acquired the business in 2017 to add a dedicated food-processing platform to its existing retail, industrial, institutional, and vehicle-care categories. The offering is oriented toward controlled sanitation environments where cleaning chemistry, process consistency, and food-safety requirements are central to customer operations.
Sanitation-management program · 2015
Zep Assure
Zep Assure is a program combining cleaning and sanitation products with consultation, training, and implementation support. It originated in the vehicle-care business as a system for helping car-wash operators manage chemical use and dispensing. In 2021, Zep expanded the framework into a broader biosafety program for organizations seeking structured facility-sanitation practices.
Controversies
2014
Amrep facility fire and downstream fish kill
A fire occurred at an Amrep manufacturing facility in Marietta, Georgia, after Zep had acquired Amrep. No deaths or injuries were reported, and EPA air-quality testing found the fire’s fumes were not toxic. Georgia environmental authorities determined that chemical runoff and firefighting foam likely contributed to a fish kill in downstream Sope Creek. The incident also brought renewed attention to safety and environmental issues at the site dating back before Zep’s ownership.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Zep Assure biosafety program
United States · Commercial and institutional facilities
Zep expanded the Assure concept beyond car washes to help organizations manage sanitary facilities during the COVID-19 period. The program promoted approved cleaning products together with consultation and training.
Outcome. The initiative broadened Zep’s positioning from chemical supply toward managed sanitation and implementation support.
- 2021Atlanta Public Schools sanitation partnership
Atlanta, United States
Zep supported Atlanta Public Schools as students returned to in-person learning. The company supplied hand sanitizer for classrooms, safety kits containing masks and other materials, hygiene information, posters, and hand-hygiene presentations.
Outcome. The partnership extended an earlier sanitizer-support effort linked to the school system’s meal-distribution program and provided additional sanitation education.
- 2015Assure Program
United States · Vehicle care
Zep’s vehicle-care division introduced the Assure Program for commercial car-wash operators. The program combined cleaning formulations with dispensing systems and operational guidance intended to simplify chemical management and maintenance.
Outcome. The framework later served as the basis for a broader Zep Assure biosafety and sanitation program.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer ownership to Truelink Capital ManagementM&ABackground
Zep was privately owned following New Mountain Capital’s 2015 take-private transaction.
Action taken
Truelink Capital Management acquired Zep in July 2025.
Aftermath
Zep continued as an active privately held cleaning and maintenance-products company under new private-equity ownership.
2021
Expand Assure into biosafety and sanitationProduct launchBackground
Zep had developed the Assure framework for vehicle-care customers, and the COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for structured sanitation practices.
Action taken
The company launched a broader Zep Assure program combining cleaning products, consultation, and training for organizations managing sanitary facilities.
Aftermath
The initiative reinforced Zep’s move toward bundled chemical, equipment, training, and service solutions.
2017
Acquire AFCOM&ABackground
Zep wanted to expand its professional cleaning portfolio into food and beverage processing, where sanitation and safety products are essential to production operations.
Action taken
Zep acquired AFCO, a manufacturer of sanitation and safety products for food-processing customers.
Aftermath
Food and beverage became one of Zep’s four principal product categories.
2015
Accept New Mountain Capital’s take-private offerM&ABackground
Zep operated as a publicly traded specialty-chemical company after its 2007 separation from Acuity Brands.
Action taken
Zep’s board unanimously approved New Mountain Capital’s approximately $460 million acquisition proposal. Shareholders approved the merger in June 2015, and the transaction closed in July.
Aftermath
Zep became privately held and continued expanding through sector-focused products and the 2017 AFCO acquisition.
Agreed acquisition value. $460 million (April 2015 agreement)
2012
Acquire Ecolab’s vehicle-care divisionM&ABackground
Zep sought to broaden its professional cleaning platform into vehicle-care and car-wash chemical applications.
Action taken
Zep acquired Ecolab’s vehicle-care division.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened Zep’s vehicle-care category and supported the later Assure program for car-wash operators.
2007
Separate the chemical division as Zep, Inc.StrategyBackground
Acuity Brands had reorganized after the earlier separation of NSI’s chemical and lighting businesses. Its chemical operation, Acuity Specialty Products, was selected for a further separation.
Action taken
The chemical division was spun off as Zep, Inc., creating an independent company containing the Zep, Zep Commercial, Enforcer, and Selig brands.
Aftermath
Zep pursued acquisitions and operated as an independent public company until its 2015 acquisition by New Mountain Capital.
Recent events
- 2025
Truelink Capital Management acquires Zep[1]
M&A
Truelink Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based private-equity firm, acquired Zep in July 2025.
- 2022
Amy Hahn appointed chief executive officer[1]
Leadership change
Amy Hahn was appointed CEO of Zep.
- 2021
Zep expands sanitation services through the Assure program[1]
Product launch
Zep introduced a broader Assure biosafety program that combined approved cleaning products with consultation, training, and implementation support for organizations managing sanitary facilities.
- 2019
Dan Smytka appointed chief executive officer[1]
Leadership change
Dan Smytka became Zep’s chief executive officer.
- 2017
Zep acquires AFCO[1]
M&A
Zep acquired AFCO, expanding its product portfolio into sanitation and safety solutions for food and beverage processing.
- 2015
New Mountain Capital agrees to acquire Zep[1]
M&A
New Mountain Capital reached an agreement valued at approximately $460 million to acquire Zep and take the company private. Zep’s board unanimously approved the transaction, and stockholders later approved it by a substantial majority.
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