Dr. Berns Laboratorium

What Dr. Berns Laboratorium does

Dr. Berns Laboratorium GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held, family-controlled German accredited testing laboratory headquartered in Neukirchen-Vluyn, North Rhine-Westphalia, founded in September 1996 by Dr. Georg Berns. The company performs DAkkS-accredited microbiological and chemical analyses of food, feed, drinking water, cosmetics, and environmental samples under DIN EN ISO 17025:2018, and holds state-level drinking water laboratory approval under §15 Abs. 4 TrinkwV, pathogen handling authorization under IfSG §44, and counter-sample expert designation under §43 LFGB. Core analytical capabilities include real-time PCR for Legionella detection (with viable/non-viable cell differentiation), Neogen Molecular Detection Assay (MDS), and multiplex PCR for pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, STEC, and Campylobacter. Beyond routine testing, the laboratory offers quality management consulting (HACCP, IFS/QS/BRC), independent audits (including IFS Global Markets assessments), expert opinions and crisis management, and training seminars delivered through the Ariana Academy e-learning platform.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model: transaction-based fees for laboratory analyses, project-based fees for consulting and audit engagements, and recurring subscription revenue from training and webinars. Customers span four primary segments — food industry businesses (manufacturers, processors, craft butchers/bakeries), water system operators (drinking water installations, swimming pools, dental practices, cooling towers), public institutions (schools, hospitals, nursing homes), and private individuals — with pricing conducted on a quote basis rather than published tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, leveraging direct outreach, on-site sampling across the Kreise Kleve, Wesel, Viersen, Krefeld, and Duisburg region, professional committee memberships, and the KIS customer portal for results delivery and account management. The company is led by Dr. Georg Berns (Founder and Managing Director), Gisela Berns-van den Boom (Deputy Managing Director and Head of HR Development), and Dr. med. vet. Marcus Langen (Deputy Managing Director and Head of Reporting and Expert Opinions), with collaborative research ties to Universität Bonn, Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Hochschule Niederrhein, and Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover.

Name

Dr. Berns Laboratorium

Legal name

Dr. Berns Laboratorium GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://drberns.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dr. Berns Laboratorium is a privately held, DAkkS-accredited German laboratory in Neukirchen-Vluyn (NRW) that performs microbiological and chemical testing of food, feed, and drinking water for food manufacturers, water operators, public institutions, and private customers, supported by consulting, audit, and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food and Water Safety Testing Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFALAAAA

Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

SECONDARYEUANAJAB

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Water Quality Testing, Compliance & Reporting

SECONDARYAFALAAAL

Food Quality Assurance (QA) Programs & Supplier Quality Management

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

SECONDARYAFALAAAO

Risk Assessment, Hazard Analysis & Food Defense/Fraud Programs

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

SECONDARYBPABAJAB

Water Sampling, Testing & Laboratory Analysis (Legionella/Microbiology)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Water Treatment & Building Water Hygiene (Legionella)

Keywords

• Food safety testing
• Drinking water analysis
• Microbiological laboratory services
• IFS BRC certification audits
• Quality management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Neukirchen-vluyn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Analysis Services: Microbiological and chemical analysis of food, feed, and water samples. Revenue generated per test/sample with parameters varying by analysis complexity. Core recurring revenue stream for food safety compliance testing.
2. Consulting Services: Quality management consulting, HACCP concept development, IFS/QS/BRC certification preparation, EU approval consulting. Project-based engagements for compliance support.
3. Audit Services: Supplier audits, pre-audits for IFS/QS/BRC certification, internal audits, hygiene audits, IFS Global Markets assessments. Certification support services for food industry clients.
4. Training and Seminars: E-learning modules and webinars via Ariana Academy platform, individual in-house training sessions. Professional development services for food industry personnel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dr. Berns Laboratorium is a DAkkS-accredited testing laboratory providing microbiological and chemical analysis of food, feed, drinking water, hygiene, cosmetics, and environmental samples for businesses, public institutions, and private customers. Its service portfolio also includes quality management consulting, IFS/QS/BRC audits, expert opinions and crisis management support, and training seminars delivered through the Ariana Academy platform with results accessed via the KIS customer portal.

Product overview

Dr. Berns Laboratorium offers a unified laboratory and consulting service portfolio focused on food safety and drinking water security. The core offering is laboratory analysis (Analysen) encompassing food/feed analysis, water/drinking water analysis, and hygiene controls. This is supported by quality management consulting, expert opinions/crisis management, auditing services, and training seminars. The KIS (Kundeninformationssystem) serves as the digital platform providing customers access to analysis results and evaluations. Services are provided across multiple locations in Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany, with DAkkS accreditation under DIN EN ISO 17025:2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratory Analysis Services (Analysen) Comprehensive laboratory analysis services including microbiological and chemical testing of food, feed, drinking water, cosmetics, and environmental samples. The core service offering of the laboratory, conducted under DAkkS accreditation per DIN EN ISO 17025:2018.
• Food and Feed Analysis (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelanalyse) Food and feed analysis including sensoric testing, physico-chemical examinations (pH, water activity, fill control), microbiological investigations using cultural or molecular biological methods, pathogen detection, challenge tests, sterility tests, microscopy, and chemical investigations.
• Water and Drinking Water Analysis (Wasser- und Trinkwasseranalyse) Water and drinking water analysis including sampling, microbiological water examinations, chemical/physico-chemical water investigations, Legionella detection via culture and real-time PCR methods, pool water analysis, and dental unit water testing.
• Hygiene Controls (Hygienekontrollen) Hygiene control services including cleaning and disinfection verification through swab and contact plate methods, ATP testing, and air microbe measurements using impaction or sedimentation procedures.
• Quality Management Consulting (Qualitätsmanagement-Beratung) Quality management consulting services for craft and industry, including HACCP concept development, IFS, QS, BRC, DIN ISO standards implementation, EU approval consulting, and food law advisory services.
• Audits (Supplier, Pre-Audit, Internal, Hygiene, IFS Global Markets) Independent, objective, and competent auditing services including supplier audits, pre-audits for IFS/QS/BRC certification, internal audits, hygiene audits, and IFS Global Markets assessments. The laboratory is an authorized Assessment Service Provider per IFS Management GmbH.
• Expert Opinions and Crisis Management (Gutachten / Krisenmanagement) Expert opinions, expert statements, crisis management, and declaration consulting. Includes support for building crisis management systems, stress tests, and coordination with food safety authorities.
• Seminars and Training (Seminare und Schulungen) Seminars and training programs for the food industry, available as e-learnings, webinars, and customized in-house training sessions through the Ariana Academy platform.
• Real-time PCR Rapid Method for Legionella Detection Real-time PCR-based rapid screening for Legionella in drinking water delivering results within hours, with viable/non-viable cell differentiation to exclude damaged cells. Accredited analysis for self-control (non-systemic investigation per TrinkwV).

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hochschule Rhein-WaalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for student practical training (Praxissemester) and dual study programs (Bio Science and Health). Students use Dr. Berns Laboratorium facilities for lab technical education. Study program focuses on food safety and water services.
• Hochschule NiederrheincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint projects with Faculty of Oecotrophology in Mönchengladbach. Student placements and practical semester opportunities for food safety, analytics, and quality management students.
• Universität Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with University of Bonn for research collaboration. Participation in research projects SafeGuard and FinQ.NRW.
• Fin-Q.NRWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch network project 'Innovation through Quality Communication' (Forschungsnetzwerk Innovation durch Qualitätskommunikation) under giqs.org.
• SafeGuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border project 'Sound Animals and Healthy Food' targeting safety and risk prevention in livestock and meat sector across German-Dutch border.
• GIQS - Grenzüberschreitende Integrierte Qualitätssicherung e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit association for cross-border integrated quality assurance. Company member participating in research and knowledge exchange.
• Medicteam-NRWminorOthersPartner in 'Unternehmer-Austausch-Runde' (Business Exchange Round) for mutual exchange on business leadership topics.
• SYSXPERTSminorOthersPartner in 'Unternehmer-Austausch-Runde' (Business Exchange Round) for mutual exchange on business leadership topics.
• VelcominorOthersPartner in 'Unternehmer-Austausch-Runde' (Business Exchange Round) for mutual exchange on business leadership topics.
• AldersminorOthersPartner in 'Unternehmer-Austausch-Runde' (Business Exchange Round) for mutual exchange on business leadership topics.
• TLM-GasversorgungminorOthersPartner in 'Unternehmer-Austausch-Runde' (Business Exchange Round) for mutual exchange on business leadership topics.
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-SiegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for research collaboration and student education in life sciences.
• Hochschule Ostwestfalen-LippeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with LAFF (Lemgoer Arbeitskreis Fleisch + Feinkost) collaboration. Student practical training opportunities.
• Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule HannoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in veterinary science for food safety research collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global market leader in food, feed, and environmental testing with a major German footprint. Directly comparable in food microbiology, water testing, and accredited services, but operates at vastly greater scale and with a national/European test menu.
• SGS Germany: Swiss-based TIC giant operating German food and water testing labs. Competes for the same IFS/BRC-certified food manufacturers and water operators, but offers a much broader global service portfolio.
• TÜV Rheinland: Large German testing, inspection, and certification body with food-safety and water-quality service lines. Comparable in regulatory accreditations and audit/consulting offerings, but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: German TIC incumbent with food testing, water hygiene, and certification services. Competes for the same Mittelstand food and public-sector customers, with deeper geographic reach and brand recognition.
• Bureau Veritas Germany: International TIC group with German food testing and Agri-Food supply-chain services. Comparable regulatory testing and certification scope, delivered through a much larger global network.
• Intertek Germany: Global TIC provider offering food and water testing alongside certification and audit services. Overlaps with Dr. Berns on microbiological analysis and food-safety compliance support.

Direct peers

• Tentamus Group: Berlin-headquartered international lab network specializing in food, feed, water, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical testing. Closest head-to-head peer for a German Mittelstand food/water lab, with overlapping accreditations and customer base.
• ALS Global (Germany): International testing services group with German operations covering food, environmental, and water testing. Directly comparable service mix and customer segments, with similar accredited laboratory positioning.
• Mérieux NutriSciences (bioMérieux): Global food testing and consulting provider (formerly Silliker) serving manufacturers, retailers, and food-service operators. Direct peer in microbiological and chemical food analysis, with comparable consulting and audit offerings.

Emerging players

• R-Biopharm: German specialist in food and feed diagnostics, including PCR-based pathogen detection kits. Comparable technology stack (molecular detection for Salmonella, Listeria, etc.) and overlapping German Mittelstand food-customer base, though operating as a kit/technology vendor rather than a service lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Dr. Berns Laboratorium