It's true that waste management, elevator installation, termite extermination, food retailing, the marketing of degreasing agents or the rental of work uniforms aren't exactly the stuff of dreams. And yet, behind this spleen sometimes lie high-quality, well-managed companies that put a smile on their shareholders' faces.

We've put together a thematic list of companies that operate in sectors considered boring and uninteresting, but which nevertheless deliver performance to their shareholders in terms of share price appreciation and dividend payments.