Always Food Safe
Always Food Safe is an ANAB-accredited e-learning provider offering video-based food safety certification courses (Food Manager, Food Handler, Allergen, Alcohol) to US food service businesses, having served 85,000+ companies and issued 200,000+ certifications since 2016.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Always Food Safe does
Always Food Safe (The Always Food Safe Company LLC) is a privately-held e-learning provider headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, founded in 2016. The company delivers ANAB-accredited, video-based food safety certification courses to the US food service industry, having issued 200,000+ certifications and served 85,000+ companies. Its core product portfolio spans four certification types—Food Manager ($65, 5-year validity), Food Handler ($6, 3-year validity), Allergen Awareness ($15), and Alcohol Seller/Server ($10)—with specialized variants for grocery and convenience store sectors. The underlying technology stack combines a video-based learning platform filmed in real commercial kitchens, remote exam proctoring via Honorlock (third-party), and a certificate validation/management integration with NCCO.
The company monetizes through a predominantly one-time-per-certification model for individual learners and a subscription/recurring bulk-training model for enterprise buyers, supplemented by a free management dashboard for tracking employee certifications and a Task Manager compliance tool for multi-location operators. Pricing is at the low end of the category ($6 entry-level to $65 manager certification), positioning the offering as a cost-disruptive, fully-online alternative to traditional classroom-based food safety training. GTM motion is hybrid: product-led growth via a self-serve website for individuals and inside sales via a dedicated phone line (720-791-2050) for bulk corporate accounts. Customer segments span restaurants, grocery chains, convenience stores (notably QuikTrip), casinos/resorts, and franchise networks (Domino's, Sizzler, Boudin Bakery, Ike's Love & Sandwiches), with no external funding, parent company, or acquisitions disclosed.
The operating footprint is purely domestic—certifications accepted nationally across all 50 US states plus DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico—and content is delivered bilingually in English and Spanish. Marketing is digital-first, centered on SEO, state-by-state regulatory content, educational blog posts, and downloadable free resources (temperature logs, cleaning schedules, allergen guides). The company holds a registered trademark for the "Always Food Safe" brand and operates with 11-50 employees, suggesting a lean, profitable small business rather than a venture-backed scale-up.
Always Food Safe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Always Food Safe
- Legal name
- The Always Food Safe Company LLC
- Website
- https://alwaysfoodsafe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Always Food Safe is an ANAB-accredited e-learning provider offering video-based food safety certification courses (Food Manager, Food Handler, Allergen, Alcohol) to US food service businesses, having served 85,000+ companies and issued 200,000+ certifications since 2016.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Always Food Safe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Food Safety Certification Training
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Safety Culture Programs & QA Training (AFALALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI)
Keywords
Where Always Food Safe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Always Food Safe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Food Safety Certification Courses: Individual certification courses sold as one-time purchases. Customers pay per certification (Food Manager, Food Handler, Allergen Awareness, Alcohol Certification). No recurring subscription required for individual learners. One free exam retake included with each purchase.
- Business Team Training: Bulk pricing for businesses training multiple employees. Companies can purchase training packages for teams. Includes complimentary management dashboard for tracking employee certifications.
- Exam Retake Fees: One free exam retake included with purchase. Additional retakes after passing or cheating violations are not permitted per refund policy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Food Manager Certification - 5-year nationally accredited certification for supervisory food safety personnel |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Food Handler Card - Basic food safety training for frontline food service employees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Allergen Awareness Certificate - Training on food allergens and cross-contamination prevention |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Alcohol Seller/Server Certification - Responsible alcohol service training |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bulk/Team Training - Corporate pricing for multiple employee certifications |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Always Food Safe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Always Food Safe is an ANAB-accredited online e-learning provider that delivers video-based food safety certification courses, including Food Manager Certification, Food Handler Card, Allergen Awareness, and Alcohol Seller/Server training, with remote proctoring and complimentary compliance dashboards for businesses. Training is delivered 100% online, available in English and Spanish, and recognized across all 50 US states.
Product overview
Always Food Safe is an ANAB-accredited e-learning platform offering video-based food safety certification courses. The product portfolio centers on four core certification programs—Food Manager Certification (5-year validity, $65), Food Handler Card (3-year validity, $6), Allergen Awareness Certificate ($15), and Alcohol Seller/Server Certification ($10)—with specialized variants for grocery and convenience store sectors. The company supplements its core training with a complimentary management dashboard for businesses to track employee certifications and a Task Manager compliance tool for monitoring temperature logs, corrective actions, and inspection readiness. All courses are 100% online, video-based (filmed in real commercial kitchens), available in English and Spanish, and include free exam retakes. Remote proctoring via Honorlock enables users to take exams online without visiting testing centers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Food Manager Certification
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% information retention with video-based learning compared to 10% with text
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Always Food Safe
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Always Food Safe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Always Food Safe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HonorlockcoreThird-party remote proctoring provider used for the Food Protection Manager examination. Enables users to take proctored exams online from any location without visiting a traditional testing center.
- National Checking Company (NCCO)corePlatform integration for certificate validation and management. NCCO login system handles user authentication for the Always Food Safe platform and certificate verification services.
- ANAB (American National Standards Institute)coreAccreditation body that has accredited Always Food Safe's food safety certification programs. ANAB accreditation ensures the programs meet national standards and are accepted across all 50 US states.
- Asheville Independent Restaurant AssociationminorPartnership providing food safety training discounts or resources for member restaurants in the Asheville, NC area.
- NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials)minorPartnership with public health organization supporting food safety education initiatives at the local health department level.
- AFDO (Association of Food and Drug Officials)minorPartnership with organization supporting uniform food safety regulations and certification standards.
- American Culinary FederationminorPartnership providing food safety training resources for culinary professionals and ACF member chefs.
Scale indicators6 records
Always Food Safe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ServSafe (National Restaurant Association): The dominant US foodservice certification provider, offering ANAB-accredited Food Manager and Food Handler training. ServSafe is Always Food Safe's primary direct competitor and the market-share leader in mandated foodservice certifications.
- 360training: Large online regulatory training marketplace offering food safety, alcohol, and allergen courses to individuals and enterprises. Directly competes with Always Food Safe across food handler, food manager, and alcohol certification categories with similar self-serve e-learning delivery.
- TapSeries: Online provider of food handler, food manager, and alcohol training serving both individual learners and multi-unit operators. Comparable self-serve model, multi-language capability, and bulk/enterprise offerings to Always Food Safe.
- StateFoodSafety: Online food safety training provider offering state-specific food handler and food manager certifications. Closely comparable business model, pricing tier, and target customer (foodservice employees and operators) to Always Food Safe.
- eFoodHandlers: Online food handler certification provider focused on the same SMB/individual foodservice worker segment at similar low price points. Directly comparable in delivery model (100% online, self-paced) and core product.
- TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS): Specialized online alcohol server/seller training and certification provider. Directly comparable to Always Food Safe's Alcohol Seller/Server Certification product, with similar target buyer (bars, restaurants, casinos) and delivery model.
- Learn2Serve (by 360training): 360training's food and alcohol safety training brand, offering ANAB-aligned food handler and food manager courses. Operates in the same product categories and customer base as Always Food Safe.
Emerging players
- National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP): Food Protection Manager certification body whose ANSI-accredited Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM) exam is widely accepted. While more focused on exam administration than full training, it is a meaningful adjacent competitor for Always Food Safe's Food Manager certification revenue.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Always Food Safe social profiles
Digital presenceAlways Food Safe compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Always Food Safe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Always Food Safe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Always Food Safe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Always Food Safe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Always Food Safe
What does Always Food Safe do?
Always Food Safe is an ANAB-accredited online e-learning provider that delivers video-based food safety certification courses, including Food Manager Certification, Food Handler Card, Allergen Awareness, and Alcohol Seller/Server training, with remote proctoring and complimentary compliance dashboards for businesses. Training is delivered 100% online, available in English and Spanish, and recognized across all 50 US states.
Is Always Food Safe a public or private company?
Always Food Safe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Always Food Safe founded?
Always Food Safe was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Always Food Safe based?
Always Food Safe is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Always Food Safe make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Food Safety Certification Courses are the primary driver. The others are business Team Training and exam Retake Fees.
Who are Always Food Safe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ServSafe (National Restaurant Association), 360training, TapSeries, StateFoodSafety, eFoodHandlers, TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) and Learn2Serve (by 360training). National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Always Food Safe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Always Food Safe.
What industry is Always Food Safe in?
Always Food Safe's product category is Online Food Safety Certification Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALALAF, Food Safety Culture Programs & QA Training, with a secondary code of AFALAMAI, Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs).