Exhibit 99.1

Zep Inc. Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

ATLANTA, April 9, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Zep Inc. (NYSE:ZEP), a leading producer and marketer of a wide range of cleaning and maintenance solutions, today reported financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2012.

The second fiscal quarter of 2012 reflected strong sales in the retail and distribution sales channels resulting from new and expanded customer relationships, with the Company achieving organic sales growth year-over-year due to the success of selling efforts focused on increasing sales through those channels.  In addition to this organic growth, an extra selling day due to the leap year and, to a lesser degree, the positive impact of acquisitions, provided incremental revenue gains compared to the same period last year.

“I am very pleased to report these solid results for the quarter, particularly the organic sales growth driven by the impressive retail and distribution execution delivered by our team,” said John K. Morgan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zep Inc., “and I would like to thank our associates for their continued hard work and dedication.  On a separate note, I’d like to welcome the team from the Hale Group in the United Kingdom, who became a part of the Zep Inc. team a few months ago.”

Overall, market performance remained mixed, with sales volume declining within end-markets such as government, institutional and janitorial.  These declines were more than offset, however, by increased sales within the automotive, home improvement retail, vehicle wash, industrial MRO and food processing end-markets.

The following is a summary of the quarter’s results:

·                  Revenue of $151.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 represented an increase of $4.9 million, or 3.3%, compared to revenue of $146.8 million reported in the same period a year ago.

·                  Net income for the second quarter was $2.4 million, an increase of 13.2% compared with reported net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

·                  Diluted earnings per share (EPS) reported for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were $0.11, a 10% increase over diluted EPS of $0.10 reported for last year’s second quarter.

·                  EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses) for the second quarter totaled $8.8 million, an increase of 7.0% compared to $8.3 million in EBITDA reported for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

·                  Free cash flow consumed (defined as Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities less Purchases of property, plant, and equipment plus Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment) during the second quarter was $3.3 million,

an improvement over the $7.9 million consumed last year.  This improvement reflects higher net income and improved working capital management, the effect of which was partially offset by higher capital spending associated with planned technology investments.

Gross profit of $68.0 million for the quarter was $0.6 million lower than last year.  As a percentage of sales, reported gross profit declined 190 basis points to 44.8% compared with the same period last year.  The decline in gross profit as a percentage of sales from last year was primarily due to increased inflation in the cost of raw materials (particularly petroleum-based products) that outpaced the Company’s ability to increase selling prices, as well as an increase in the percentage of sales to customers accessed through the distribution and retail channels (business mix).  Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross profit as a percentage of sales declined 270 basis points, primarily due to a shift in business mix and higher manufacturing costs. A more favorable relationship between raw material costs and pricing of approximately 25 basis points partially offset this sequential decline.

“We expect results in the second half to continue to improve,” added Mark R. Bachmann, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Zep Inc.  “We are pleased with the progress we are continuing to make on our strategic initiatives, and we also expect to benefit from a more favorable economic environment going forward.”

Diluted earnings per share (EPS) reported for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were $0.11, a 10% increase over diluted EPS of $0.10 reported for last year’s second quarter.  Last year’s second quarter diluted EPS included charges totaling $0.03 per diluted share related to restructuring efforts and incremental expense due to an increased basis in acquired inventories. In addition, in last year’s second quarter, contamination of a waste treatment facility at one of our manufacturing locations resulted in a temporary increase in manufacturing costs that adversely affected EPS in that quarter by $0.04 per diluted share.  Last year’s second quarter diluted EPS also included a gain of $0.02 per diluted share that resulted from the sale of a facility.

On January 31, 2012, the Company acquired the shares of the U.K.-based Hale Group Limited.  Zep has had a presence in Europe since 1992, and with this latest acquisition, the Company is expanding its reach to a broad range of industrial, commercial and public sector customers in both the U.K. and additional export markets.  The Company purchased the Hale Group using cash on hand, and the incurrence of related acquisition costs during the current quarter was referenced during the preceding quarter’s earnings conference call.

Mr. Morgan concluded by saying, “We remain committed to our long term growth strategy.  The investments we’ve made to better serve the market are paying off, and the strong growth we’ve seen in our retail and distribution channels is a testament to our overall strategy to grow profitably through targeted, channel expansion-oriented acquisitions.”

A more detailed discussion of the Company’s long-term objectives and financial goals may be found in our Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Forms 10-K and 10-Q are available via the Company’s website at www.zepinc.com.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss second quarter operating results on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. ET.  The call and accompanying presentation will be webcast and may be accessed through the Company’s website at www.zepinc.com or by dialing in at 877-303-1595, access code: 61178479.  For international toll, dial 253-237-1190, access code 61178479.  A replay of the call will be posted to the website within two hours of completion of the conference call.

About Zep Inc.

Zep Inc., with fiscal 2011 net sales of $646 million, is a leading producer and marketer of a wide range of cleaning and maintenance solutions for commercial, industrial, institutional, and consumer end-markets. Zep Inc.’s product portfolio includes anti-bacterial and industrial hand care products, cleaners, degreasers, deodorizers, disinfectants, floor finishes, sanitizers, and pest and weed control products, as well as high performance products and professional grade chemical products for the automotive, fleet maintenance, industrial/MRO supply, institutional supply and motorcycle markets. We market these products and services under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep®, Zep Commercial®, Zep Professional™, Enforcer®, National Chemical®, Selig™, Misty®, Next Dimension™, Petro®, i-Chem®, TimeMist®, TimeWick, MicrobeMax™, Country Vet®, Konk™, Niagara National™, Washtronics, Washtronics of America, Forward Chemicals, Rexodan®, and a number of private labeled brands. Some of Zep’s brands have been in existence since the Company’s 1937 founding. Zep Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit our website at www.zepinc.com.

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Forward Looking Statements and use of Non-GAAP Information

This release contains, and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Zep may include, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, we or our executive officers on our behalf, may from time to time make forward-looking statements in reports and other documents that are filed with the SEC or in connection with oral statements made to the press, potential investors or others. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our future economic performance, business prospects, revenue, income, and financial condition; and statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “will,” “anticipates,” and similar terms that relate to future events, performance, or our results. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to:  statements regarding growth and other benefits that we may realize as a result of executing our long-term initiatives.

Our forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, expectations, or outcomes to differ materially from our historical experience as well as management’s present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

·                  economic conditions in general;

·                  customer and supplier relationships and prices;

·                  competition;

·                  ability to realize anticipated benefits from strategic planning initiatives and timing of benefits;

·                  market demand; and

·                  litigation and other contingent liabilities, such as environmental matters.

A variety of other risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements. A number of those risks are discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. Management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and management undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) are supplemented by a table of adjusted operating results, which includes non-GAAP financial information that is referenced in this press release, which includes EBITDA. This non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance the user’s overall understanding of our financial performance. Specifically, management believes the non-GAAP financial information provides useful information to investors by excluding or adjusting certain items affecting reported operating results that were unusual or not indicative of our core operating results. This non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, this non-GAAP information may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The non-GAAP financial information included in this earnings release has been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure in the tables at the end of this press release.

Zep Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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Zep Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

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Zep Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

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Zep Inc.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

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