AssureCloud

What AssureCloud does

AssureCloud is Southern Africa's largest network of accredited food safety laboratories, providing integrated testing, inspection, certification, and training services to food producers, manufacturers, retailers, and government clients. Originally established in 1999 as Africon and rebranded to AssureCloud in 2020, the company operates SANAS ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory facilities and, through its Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification subsidiary, JAS-ANZ-accredited certification body services for FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, HACCP, and GLOBALG.A.P. The technology foundation combines traditional laboratory instrumentation (chromatographic, mass spectrometric, PCR, ELISA, microbiological) with a proprietary Client Portal System providing real-time dashboards, mobile-enabled audit tools with photographic evidence capture, automated alerts, and customised compliance reporting.

The company generates revenue through four streams: (1) transactional per-test fees for laboratory testing across food, feed, water, environmental, and veterinary samples; (2) per-audit and recurring surveillance audit fees for food safety inspections; (3) certification fees on three-year recertification cycles with annual surveillance through Aspirata; and (4) transactional training course fees (R764-R14,921 per participant) delivered via webinar, public venue, or on-site. Customers include Pick n Pay (20+ year relationship), Lactalis SA, Parmalat, Quantum Foods, Virgin Active, CBH, Tronox, Absa Bank, Storm Mountain Diamonds, Ostrich Business Chamber, Shango Solutions, and PRASA, spanning food manufacturing, retail, agriculture, mining, banking, hospitality, consulting, and government verticals. Distribution is direct via six regional offices across South Africa and Zambia, with no intermediary partners.

AssureCloud operates as a brand under Safety SA Holdco (Pty) Ltd alongside sister brands including SafetyCloud, NOSA, and NQA. The group expanded through 2020 acquisitions of Deltamune Laboratories and SAI Global's QPRO and SAIGAS operations, and in 2025 announced CTI as a new shareholder, signalling international capital and cross-border growth ambitions. Geographic footprint spans 17+ countries across Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, the Middle East (UAE), and Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam). The group maintains Level 1 B-BBEE contributor status.

Name

AssureCloud

Legal name

Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://assurecloud.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AssureCloud is Southern Africa's largest SANAS-accredited food safety laboratory network, providing integrated testing, inspection, certification, and training services to food manufacturers, retailers, and government clients across South Africa and Zambia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Testing and Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI), Validation & Verification Programs (Sanitation, Process, Allergen Controls) (AFALALAL), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE), Supplier Quality Assurance & Vendor Approval Programs (AFALALAB), Sustainability/Ethical Sourcing Claim Verification (RSPO, Rainforest, Fairtrade) (AFALAGAJ)

Keywords

• Food safety testing
• Laboratory testing services
• Food safety inspection
• FSSC certification services
• Food safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Midrand

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Accredited laboratory testing services for food, feed, water, environmental, and veterinary samples. Revenue is generated through per-test fees based on specific testing parameters requested by clients. Services include microbiological testing, chemical analysis, nutritional testing, allergen testing, mycotoxin screening, and veterinary diagnostics.
2. Food Safety Inspection and Audit Services: Inspection and audit services conducted by certified auditors covering food safety audits, hygiene inspections, brand standards audits, and compliance assessments. Revenue generated through per-audit or per-inspection fees, with recurring surveillance audit contracts for certified clients.
3. Certification Services: ISO and FSSC certification body services through Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification. Revenue generated through certification audit fees including Stage 1, Stage 2, annual surveillance audits, and recertification audits every three years. Also includes transfer certification from previous certification bodies.
4. Training Services: Food safety training courses delivered online (webinar), at public venues, or on-site at client premises. Revenue generated through course fees per participant. Training programmes include R638 Regulation, HACCP, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, allergen management, food safety culture, and professional development courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AssureCloud provides accredited food safety testing, inspection, certification, and training services through Southern Africa's largest network of SANAS-accredited laboratories. The company delivers microbiological, chemical, and veterinary diagnostic laboratory analyses; on-site food safety inspections and audits against R638, SANS 10049, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000; ISO and FSSC certification through its Aspirata subsidiary; and accredited training courses (HACCP, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, R638, allergen management) delivered online, at public venues, or on-site.

Product overview

AssureCloud is a comprehensive food safety and occupational health services company operating as Southern Africa's largest network of accredited laboratories. The portfolio consists of four core service pillars: Laboratory Testing Services (chemical, microbiological, and diagnostic testing), Food Safety Inspection Services (audits and compliance inspections), Food Safety Certification Services (ISO and FSSC certification through Aspirata), and Food Safety Training (accredited courses). Supporting capabilities include Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Services and a proprietary Client Portal System for real-time reporting and dashboard access. The company, originally established in 1999 as Africon, has grown through strategic acquisitions including Deltamune Laboratories and SAI Global's QPRO and SAIGAS operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratory Testing Services SANAS-accredited laboratory testing services encompassing chemical, microbiological, and diagnostic testing for food, feed, water, and environmental samples across facilities in South Africa and Zambia. Specialised testing covers pathogens, indicator and spoilage organisms, allergens, mycotoxins, nutritional content, heavy metals, histamine, CO2, raw milk composition, water quality (Full SANS241 Analysis), and veterinary diagnostics.
• Food Safety Inspection Services Expert food safety inspections and audits covering hygiene, sanitation, pest control, temperature monitoring, and compliance with R638 and SANS 10049 standards. Inspections are executed using mobile-enabled tools that capture findings with photographic evidence and deliver instant reporting through the Client Portal system, aligned with international standards such as ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000.
• Food Safety Certification Services Accredited certification services delivered through Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification (Pty) Ltd, offering ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 Version 6, HACCP (SANS 10330:2020), ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSSC 24000, and GLOBALG.A.P. certifications. Accredited by JAS-ANZ and SANAS, with GFSI-recognized status for FSSC 22000. Includes transfer certification from previous certification bodies.
• Food Safety Training Professional food safety training courses delivered online via webinar, at public venues, or on-site at client premises. Courses cover R638 Regulation, HACCP (Awareness, Implementation), ISO 22000/FSSC 22000 v6 (Implementation, Internal Auditor, Introduction, Transition), allergen management, food safety culture, basic food safety for food handlers, Good Laboratory Practices, ISO 19011 IMS Lead Auditor Training, micro for non-microbiologists, and pest control. Delivered by qualified facilitators, assessors, and moderators, with FOODBEV accreditation and SAATCA registration.
• Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Services Comprehensive veterinary diagnostic testing supporting poultry and livestock health, including pathogenic bacterial isolations and identification, antimicrobial sensitivity tests, parasitology tests, PCR rapid disease diagnosis, virus isolations of poultry pathogens, Trichinella testing on meat products, and comprehensive serology tests for poultry diseases (AI, NCD, IBV, IBD, REO, MS, MG, Salmonella). Supports early disease detection and treatment decisions.
• Wet Chemistry Testing for Animal Feed ISO 17025 accredited wet chemistry testing for animal feed quality, including protein, fat, ash, moisture, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus analysis. Integrated with mycotoxin screening for a complete feed safety assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest network of accredited laboratories in Southern Africa serving organisations from local producers to multinational manufacturers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification (Pty) LtdcoreOthersAssureCloud operates its certification services through Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification (Pty) Ltd, a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor with over 20 years of experience. Aspirata is the legal entity through which AssureCloud provides ISO and FSSC certification services, accredited by JAS-ANZ and SANAS.
• Whistle BlowersminorOthersAssureCloud maintains an independent and confidential whistleblowing service through Whistle Blowers for reporting suspected fraud, corruption, misconduct, unethical behaviour, or breaches of applicable laws or company policies. Supports commitment to corporate governance and ethical conduct.
• JAS-ANZ (Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand)coreOthersInternational accreditation body that provides accreditation for AssureCloud's certification body operations (Aspirata Auditing Testing and Certification) for FSMS, QMS, and EMS certifications, ensuring internationally recognised standards compliance.
• SANAS (South African National Accreditation System)coreOthersNational accreditation body providing accreditation for AssureCloud's laboratory services (ISO 17025) and HACCP certification body operations, ensuring compliance with South African and international standards.
• Foundation FSSCcoreOthersLicensed by Foundation FSSC for FSSC 22000 and FSSC 24000 certification scheme, enabling AssureCloud to issue globally recognised food safety and social compliance certifications to organisations in Southern Africa.
• Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)coreOthersFSSC 22000 certification offered by AssureCloud is fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the global benchmark for food safety credibility. This recognition assures customers that food safety management systems are independently verified to highest international standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC major with food and commodity testing, ISO 22000/FSSC certification and agri-food vertical expertise. Comparable as a multi-accredited certification body offering the same integrated TICT model AssureCloud provides to food manufacturers and processors.
• SGS SA: Global leader in testing, inspection and certification with significant food safety and agri-food testing operations across Africa. Directly comparable as a TIC platform that issues ISO/FSSC certifications and operates accredited labs in the same geographies AssureCloud serves.
• Intertek Group: International TIC operator with food testing, agricultural services and management systems certification. Competes with AssureCloud in food safety audits, ISO/FSSC certification and analytical testing for multinational customers operating in Southern Africa.
• TÜV SÜD: Global certification body offering ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems certification. Directly comparable as an accredited competitor for the certification pillar of AssureCloud's offering.
• ALS Limited: Global testing services provider with food, water, environmental and life sciences analytical services. Directly comparable as a competitor in accredited laboratory testing for food, feed, water and environmental samples.
• Eurofins Scientific: World-leading food and feed testing laboratory network offering microbiological, chemical and molecular diagnostics. Directly comparable as a competitor offering accredited lab testing services across food, feed and environmental samples in Africa.
• DNV: International accredited certification body with food safety management systems certification (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000) and supply chain assurance services. Comparable as a competing JAS-ANZ-style accredited certifier for food manufacturers.

Direct peers

• NOSA: Sister brand within Safety SA Group offering occupational health and safety services. Comparable as a Southern African TIC peer and group-mate sharing customers and sales motion with AssureCloud across compliance verticals.
• Mérieux NutriSciences: Specialised food safety, quality and sustainability testing and certification services globally. Closely comparable to AssureCloud's microbiological and chemistry testing, food safety audits and certification offerings in food and beverage.
• SAI Global: Former owner of QPRO and SAIGAS — the Assurance South African business acquired by NOSA/Safety SA in 2020. Comparable as a former peer in food safety and management systems certification now partly integrated into AssureCloud's platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Aspirata
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assurecloud

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 AssureCloud