What BRCGS does

BRCGS (trading as BRC Trading Limited) is a privately held UK-based standards and certification organisation owned by LGC, delivering global supply chain assurance programmes since 1996. Its core offering is a portfolio of nine published Global Standards — Food Safety (the flagship, with 24,500+ certificated sites across 137 countries), Packaging Materials, Storage and Distribution, Retail, Consumer Products, Agents and Brokers, Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing, Gluten-Free, Plant-Based, and an entry-level START scheme — alongside complementary digital solutions (Horizon benchmarking, Directory Pro supplier management, Confidential Reporting, Food Safety Culture Excellence), training courses delivered via Approved Training Partners, a BRCGS Professional credential, a Partner Connection Programme linking certificated sites to vetted suppliers, and regional industry events such as BRCGS Connect Americas.

The platform architecture is standards-led but increasingly digital. BRCGS licenses independently accredited certification bodies globally to audit against its standards, with a five-layer Certification Integrity Programme (Tell BRCGS confidential reporting, Horizon analytics, 23-auditor integrity team, Delivery Partner KPIs, auditor compliance) monitoring the quality of those audits. Each standard refresh involves Technical Working Groups, public consultation, and over 300 pages of interpretation guidance, auditor competence requirements, and training material.

Commercially, BRCGS generates revenue through recurring certification licence fees paid by sites via certification bodies, one-time and perpetual publication sales through the BRCGS Store (e.g., Food Safety Issue 9 at £157, Interpretation Guideline at £210), training and professional scheme fees routed through Approved Training Partners, Partner Connection Programme memberships, and events and conferences. Pricing for certifications and training is largely quote-based rather than publicly listed. The customer base spans food manufacturers, packaging producers, storage and distribution operators, retailers, brand owners, ethical-trade suppliers, and plant-based/gluten-free producers, with named enterprise users including Tyson Foods, NSF, Mérieux NutriSciences, and Charter Next Generation.

Name

BRCGS

Legal name

BRC Trading Limited

Website

https://brcgs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BRCGS is a UK-based global certification standards organisation, owned by LGC, that publishes supply chain assurance standards — led by Global Standard Food Safety with 24,500+ certificated sites in 137 countries — delivered through licensed certification bodies and complemented by digital solutions, training, and a supplier Partner Connection Programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Certification

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Witness Audits, Office Assessments & Certification Governance Services (AFALACAG), Auditor Qualification, Training & Competency Certification (Food Safety) (AFALACAD), Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI)

Keywords

• Food safety certification
• Supply chain assurance
• Packaging standards
• Ethical trade certification
• Gluten-free certification

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certification fees: Fees charged to sites for certification against BRCGS Global Standards. Certification bodies conduct audits and issue certificates, with BRCGS licensing certification bodies to perform audits on its behalf.
2. Publications and Standards: Sale of official BRCGS standards documents, interpretation guidelines, key changes guides, and supporting publications through the BRCGS Store. Publications include PDF and print formats. Examples: Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 at £157.00, Ethical Appraisal Tool Report at £73.00, Interpretation Guideline at £210.00.
3. Training and Education: Revenue from e-learning courses, classroom learning, in-house training, and BRCGS Professional programme. Training is delivered through Approved Training Partners (ATPs) and Approved Training Establishments (ATEs). BRCGS Professional is a professional scheme for individuals.
4. Events and Conferences: Revenue from BRCGS Connect events (Americas Conference 2026), industry events, webinars, and the BRCGS Bitesize video series.
5. Partner Connection Programme membership: Membership fees from third-party suppliers joining the Partner Connection Programme, which provides access to BRCGS' global network of over 36,000 customers through tailored marketing packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

BRCGS publishes and licenses a portfolio of Global Standards used to certify food manufacturers, packaging producers, storage and distribution operators, retailers, agents and brokers, and consumer product makers against food safety, quality, and ethical trade criteria. Certification is delivered through a worldwide network of independently accredited certification bodies, while BRCGS also sells standards publications, interpretation guidelines, training (e-learning and classroom), digital tools (Horizon, Directory Pro, Confidential Reporting, Food Safety Culture Excellence), and a Partner Connection Programme for suppliers.

Product overview

BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards) is the leading global provider of supply chain assurance programmes for product integrity. The company offers a portfolio of nine core certification standards covering food safety, packaging materials, ethical trade, retail, consumer products, storage and distribution, agents and brokers, gluten-free, and plant-based certification. The standards portfolio is complemented by digital solutions (Horizon, Directory Pro, Food Safety Culture Excellence, Confidential Reporting), professional development programmes (BRCGS Professional), training services (e-Learning, classroom, in-house), events (BRCGS Connect), and publications. The Global Standard Food Safety is the flagship product with over 24,500 certificated sites across 137 countries. A public consultation is currently underway for Food Safety Issue 10. BRCGS also operates the Partner Connection Programme linking certificated sites with trusted suppliers, and maintains a Certification Integrity Programme with five layers of oversight to ensure audit consistency worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRCGS Participate: Vast document library available exclusive to the Service Package.
• BRCGS Directory
• BRCGS Store
• BRCGS Professional
• BRCGS Connect
• Tell BRCGS
• Horizon
• Directory Pro
• Food Safety Culture Excellence

Products and services

• Global Standard Food Safety (Issue 9) Flagship certification standard providing a framework for food manufacturers to manage product safety, legality, authenticity, and quality across manufacturing, processing, and packing sites with operational controls.
• Global Standard Packaging Materials (Issue 7) Certification standard for packaging manufacturers providing a framework for safe packaging production, product quality management, and consumer protection across food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer product packaging.
• Global Standard Storage and Distribution Certification standard for storage and distribution operations ensuring product safety and quality throughout logistics.
• Global Standard Agents and Brokers Certification standard for agents and brokers in the supply chain, covering food safety management and traceability.
• Global Standard Retail Certification standard for retail operations covering food safety, quality, and legal compliance in retail environments.
• Global Standard Consumer Products Certification standard for consumer product manufacturers covering safety, quality, and legal compliance.
• Global Standard Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing (Issue 2) Framework for evaluating effective delivery against principles of ethical trade and responsible sourcing, aligned with the UN Global Compact and UN SDG 8.
• Global Standard START Entry-level certification programme providing small sites a clear path towards improved food safety standards.
• BRCGS Gluten-Free Certification Certification programme for gluten-free food production with endorsed testing methods and accreditation requirements.
• BRCGS Plant-Based Certification Certification programme for plant-based food products verifying authenticity and quality standards.
• BRCGS Training (e-Learning, Classroom, In-House) Training courses including e-learning, classroom learning, and in-house training to support BRCGS Standards implementation and audit preparation, delivered via Approved Training Partners.
• BRCGS Professional Programme Professional scheme enabling individuals to demonstrate competency in BRCGS standards through training, exams, and continuing professional development.
• Horizon Digital analytical tool for site benchmarking and managing performance across the certification ecosystem.
• Directory Pro Digital supplier management platform revolutionising how certificated sites and brand owners manage supplier data, verification, and performance benchmarking.
• Confidential Reporting (Tell BRCGS) Global confidential system for reporting audit issues and certification integrity concerns.
• Food Safety Culture Excellence Digital assessment tool enabling organisations to capture cultural data and use it to improve food safety practices and culture.
• Partner Connection Programme Platform introducing BRCGS certificated sites to vetted third-party suppliers, connecting brands with over 36,000 customers through marketing packages.
• Certification Integrity Programme Five-layer integrity programme including Tell BRCGS reporting, Horizon analytics, certification integrity audits, Delivery Partner performance monitoring, and auditor compliance management.
• Ethical Appraisal Tool Report Social compliance assessment framework helping sites evaluate and enhance social accountability covering labour conditions, ethical practices, human rights, health and safety, and supply chain anti-bribery practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24,500 certificated sites globally across 137 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CRC IndustriescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCRC Industries is a long-standing Diamond member of the BRCGS Partner Connection Programme. CRC states that the programme delivers true added value, supports bringing CRC maintenance solutions to the global market, and provides credibility through brand association with BRCGS. It provides a dedicated route to reach certificated sites.
• VikancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVikan is a leading manufacturer of professional manual cleaning tools for the food industry, established in 1898. The company is listed as a BRCGS partner organisation and offers award-winning cleaning solutions, colour-coding site surveys, food safety advice, and hygiene training services to BRCGS certificated sites.
• LGC GroupcoreOthersBRCGS is operated by BRC Trading Ltd, which is part of the LGC Group (LGC, C/o BRC Trading Ltd). LGC provides operational infrastructure including the BRCGS Participate platform hosted at lgcassure.com, and houses BRCGS's main contact address at The Priestley Centre, Guildford.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKAS is the national Accreditation Body for the UK and accredits certification bodies that conduct BRCGS audits. Information is shared between BRCGS and UKAS regarding certification body performance. UKAS is itself audited to ensure consistent application of requirements.
• Certification Bodies (global network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA global network of independently accredited certification bodies licensed to conduct BRCGS audits against all BRCGS Global Standards. Certification bodies must be accredited by a National Accreditation Body, employ BRCGS-registered auditors, and are subject to BRCGS performance reviews twice yearly.
• Approved Training Partners (ATPs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA global network of BRCGS-approved training partners who deliver training courses, e-learning, and classroom learning aligned with BRCGS standards. ATPs provide training on BRCGS Standards for successful implementation and audit.
• Global Accreditation Cooperation (Global-ACI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRCGS standards development and revision processes must satisfy Global-ACI, GFSI, and equivalent benchmark expectations. Global-ACI governance requirements shape how BRCGS approaches standards development.
• National Accreditation BodiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational Accreditation Bodies globally (e.g., UKAS in the UK) independently accredit certification bodies to conduct BRCGS audits. Accreditation introduces independent verification of certification bodies against internationally defined standards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NSF International: NSF is a large global certification body and consulting organisation that conducts BRCGS audits (and was BRCGS's 2025 Americas Certification Body of the Year), while also operating and auditing against competing food safety schemes — overlapping with BRCGS across certification delivery.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) major that runs BRCGS audits and competes with BRCGS's scheme positioning through its wider food, agri and commodity assurance services.
• DNV: DNV is a global assurance and certification company active in food safety, supply chain and packaging certifications, including GFSI-benchmarked schemes. It serves similar manufacturer and brand-owner buyers and overlaps with BRCGS's delivery footprint.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC firm operating BRCGS certifications alongside other GFSI schemes, with broad assurance services in food, packaging and consumer products that overlap with BRCGS's standards portfolio.
• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest testing, inspection and certification companies. It is an accredited BRCGS certification body globally and operates across many overlapping food safety, packaging and ethical trade standards — making it a broad incumbent competitor across BRCGS's portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a global testing, inspection and certification provider offering food safety and packaging certifications (including against GFSI-recognised schemes like BRCGS). It competes in the same audit-and-certify space across Europe and Asia.

Direct peers

• FSSC 22000 (Foundation for Food Safety Certification): FSSC 22000 is a non-profit scheme owner operating a GFSI-recognised food safety management system certification used across the manufacturing and supply chain — directly competing with BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety for brand-owner and retailer acceptance.
• SQF Institute: SQF Institute administers the Safe Quality Food programme, a GFSI-recognised benchmark covering food safety and quality. It directly competes with BRCGS for manufacturer certification, particularly across North American and APAC supply chains.
• IFS (International Featured Standards): IFS develops standards used to audit food, household and personal care product manufacturers, with strong retailer adoption in Europe. It is one of the closest direct competitors to BRCGS for GFSI-benchmarked retailer acceptance.

Others

• Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI): GFSI is The Consumer Goods Forum's benchmarking organisation that sets the standards-against-standards framework (including BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF, IFS). It doesn't itself issue certifications but governs which schemes retailers accept — making it the upstream ecosystem participant that shapes BRCGS's addressable market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BRCGS_Standards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv_m8YKJjRYYDKaKS3F7Cuw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BRCGS.Standards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brcgs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BRCGS