IFS

What IFS does

IFS Management GmbH is a Berlin-based standards development and certification organization, founded in 2002 as a joint venture between the French retail association FCD and the German retail association HDE. It develops and maintains a portfolio of product quality and safety standards covering food (IFS Food), logistics (IFS Logistics), brokers (IFS Broker), wholesale and cash & carry, household and personal care products (IFS HPC), and packaging materials (IFS PACsecure), of which Food, Broker, Logistics, and PACsecure are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The company also runs the parallel Progress Programs, which guide companies from entry-level assessment toward full certification, and a growing suite of supply-chain solutions including an ESG Compliance Check, a Carbon Footprint Module, a Deforestation Check, a Supply Chain Processes Check, and the IFS Local assessment for small-scale producers. Operational tools supporting the standards include the IFS Database for certificate management, auditXpress software, the IFS Academy e-learning platform (built on Moodle), and the IFS Integrity Program for on-site quality assurance.

Technically, IFS's core is its standards portfolio and the governance apparatus around it: an IFS International Technical Committee that approves standards, national working groups in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain, and specialized working groups for quality assurance and new program development. Distribution is delivered through a multi-layered partner network consisting of accredited Certification Bodies that issue certificates, registered Auditors who perform assessments, approved Consultants that help companies implement standards, and authorized Training Providers that deliver courses using official IFS materials in over 20 countries; commerce for documents, e-learning courses, and auditor registration is handled through the IFS Shop.

IFS earns revenue through four primary streams: one-time sales of standards documents and supporting publications through the IFS Shop, recurring e-learning and training subscriptions via the IFS Academy, recurring auditor registration and annual listing fees, and licensing/royalty relationships with accredited Certification Bodies. End customers span food and beverage manufacturers (both branded and private-label), logistics and transport providers, brokers and trading companies, wholesale and cash & carry operators, HPC manufacturers, and packaging material suppliers. To date, more than 30,000 Certificates and Letters of Confirmation have been issued, and over 2,000 retail accounts globally recognize or require IFS certification as part of supplier approval.

Name

IFS

Legal name

IFS Management GmbH

Website

https://ifs-certification.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFS Management GmbH develops globally recognized product quality and safety certification standards for the food, logistics, broker, wholesale, HPC, and packaging industries, distributing them through accredited certification bodies, registered auditors, consultants, and an e-learning academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Product Safety Certification Standards

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

Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA), Witness Audits, Office Assessments & Certification Governance Services (AFALACAG), Supplier Approval & Second-Party Audit Programs (Retailer/Brand/Manufacturer) (AFALACAF), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE), Sustainability/Ethical Sourcing Claim Verification (RSPO, Rainforest, Fairtrade) (AFALAGAJ)

Keywords

• Food safety certification
• Quality assurance standards
• Supply chain compliance
• Product certification services
• Audit and assessment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Standards Documentation Sales: Sale of standards documents, doctrines, guidelines, brochures, and fact sheets through the IFS Shop. Companies need to purchase standards to understand requirements for certification.
2. E-Learning Courses and Training: IFS Industry e-learnings for training employees on IFS standards; fees for e-learning course access, training provider licenses, and IFS Academy access.
3. Auditor Registration and Certification Fees: Registration and annual listing fees for auditors and assessors who wish to work with IFS certification bodies.
4. Certification Body Licensing: Fees from certification bodies that are accredited to conduct IFS audits and issue certificates on behalf of IFS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IFS develops and maintains a portfolio of globally recognized product quality and safety standards (Food, Logistics, Broker, Wholesale/Cash & Carry, HPC, and PACsecure) and accompanying development programs for companies in the food and consumer goods supply chain. It monetizes these standards through standards document sales, auditor training and registration fees, certification body licensing, e-learning via the IFS Academy, and supplementary supply chain solutions such as ESG Compliance Check, Carbon Footprint Module, Deforestation Check, and Supply Chain Processes Check, all underwritten by a central IFS Database for certificate management.

Product overview

IFS (International Featured Standards) is a portfolio of globally recognized product quality and safety standards and development programs for companies in the food and consumer goods supply chain. The offering consists of six core certification standards (Food, Logistics, Broker, Wholesale/Cash & Carry, HPC, and PACsecure), four corresponding Progress programs for companies on their certification journey, and supplementary supply chain solutions including ESG Compliance Check, Carbon Footprint, Deforestation Check, and Supply Chain Processes Check. Additional offerings include Product Integrity Assessment (PIA), the Integrity Program for quality assurance, IFS Academy for e-learning via Moodle, and the IFS Shop for purchasing courses and services. The IFS Database serves as the central platform for certificate management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFS Food Standard GFSI-recognized standard for assessing food safety and quality processes of food manufacturers supplying retailers and brand owners.
• IFS Logistics Standard Standard for assessing quality and safety in logistics, warehousing, and transport operations within the food and consumer goods supply chain.
• IFS Broker Standard Standard for brokers and trading companies that intermediate food and consumer goods in the supply chain.
• IFS Wholesale / Cash & Carry Standard Standard for wholesale distributors and cash & carry operations selling to food service and retail businesses.
• IFS HPC Standard Standard for household products, cosmetics, and personal care items covering product safety and quality.
• IFS PACsecure Standard Standard for assessing safety and quality of packaging materials in contact with food and consumer goods.
• Progress Food Program Entry-level development program that supports food manufacturers on their path toward full IFS Food certification.
• Progress Logistics Program Development program helping logistics companies improve toward IFS Logistics certification, with the latest release (Progress Logistics 2) launched in May 2026.
• Progress HPC Program Development program supporting household and personal care manufacturers on their path to full IFS HPC certification.
• Progress PACsecure Program Development program supporting packaging material manufacturers transitioning toward full IFS PACsecure certification.
• IFS Local Simplified food safety assessment for small-scale producers that are not yet ready for full IFS certification.
• IFS Supply Chain Processes Check Tool for assessing and verifying supply chain processes and risk management across the food and consumer goods supply chain.
• IFS ESG Compliance Check Self-assessment tool that helps small and medium-sized companies integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
• IFS Carbon Footprint Module

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 Certificates and Letters of Confirmation issued to certified companies worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FCD (Fédération des Entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002IFS Management GmbH is a joint venture between FCD (French retail association) and HDE (German retail association). FCD represents French retail companies and co-founded IFS to develop globally recognized product quality and safety standards. This partnership provides IFS with direct alignment with major European retailers' requirements and market knowledge.
• HDE (Hauptverband des Deutschen Einzelhandels)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002IFS Management GmbH is a joint venture between HDE (German retail association) and FCD (French retail association). HDE represents German retail companies and co-founded IFS to develop globally recognized product quality and safety standards. This partnership provides IFS with direct alignment with major European retailers' requirements and market knowledge.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is the global leader in food and pharmaceutical laboratory testing, operating a network of accredited labs that support IFS-certified supply chains (food testing is a routine part of IFS supplier verification). While primarily a lab operator, Eurofins is expanding into integrated certification and audit services adjacent to IFS.
• SGS SA: SGS is the world's largest testing, inspection and certification company and operates as both an IFS-accredited certification body (issuing IFS certificates to suppliers) and a competitor in adjacent food safety, sustainability, and supply chain audit services. SGS competes with IFS indirectly through proprietary audit schemes and offers IFS implementation services.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a major German-headquartered TIC company active in food safety audits and certification, including operating as an accredited IFS certification body. TÜV's German retail relationships overlap with IFS's HDE shareholder base, making it both a partner and a competitor.
• GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative): GFSI is owned by the Consumer Goods Forum and benchmarks food safety standards including IFS Food, BRCGS, SQF, and FSSC 22000. It sits above IFS as the meta-standard and is critical to IFS's market access; IFS's standards must continue to satisfy GFSI benchmarking requirements to remain competitive.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC provider operating in food, consumer products, and supply chain assurance. It is an accredited IFS certification body and competes with IFS through adjacent and proprietary certification programs (e.g., Intertek's ethical sourcing and food assurance services).
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) major operating across food, agri-food, and consumer goods supply chains. It is an active IFS certification body and competes with IFS through its own proprietary assurance schemes and supply chain service offerings.

Direct peers

• BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards): BRCGS is the most direct competitor to IFS — it owns a parallel family of GFSI-recognized food safety standards (BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety, Packaging, Storage & Distribution, Agents & Brokers) issued through accredited certification bodies. BRCGS was acquired by LGC Group in 2023, giving it strong institutional backing. BRCGS and IFS compete head-to-head for retailer-mandated certification of branded and private-label suppliers globally.
• SQF Institute (Safe Quality Food): SQF Institute operates the SQF Food Safety Code, a GFSI-recognized food safety certification program that competes directly with IFS Food across manufacturers, processors, and primary producers. Owned by FMI – The Food Industry Association, SQF shares IFS's industry-association backing and competes for the same retailer-mandated supplier audit slots.
• FSSC 22000 (Foundation for Food Safety Certification): FSSC 22000 is a GFSI-recognized food safety management system certification built on ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002-1, competing directly with IFS Food for manufacturer certifications. It has a strong global footprint and competes with IFS for the same certification bodies and brand-owner mandates.

Emerging players

• NSF International: NSF develops and administers food safety and consumer product standards (including NSF/ANSI standards) and provides certification and auditing services that overlap with IFS. NSF is increasingly active in food fraud mitigation and ESG compliance, areas where IFS has launched competing tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifs_standards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationalfeaturedstandards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifs-international-featured-standards

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 IFS