What Ceres Certifications, International does

Ceres Certifications, International (CCI) is a privately held ANAB-accredited certification body headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, founded in 2001 to conduct food safety audits for the U.S. produce industry. The company holds ISO/IEC 17065:2012 accreditation from ANSI National Accreditation Board for PrimusGFS v3.2 and SQF Edition 9, the two principal GFSI-recognized schemes for produce and food manufacturers, and also conducts non-GFSI inspections (Primus Standard, Primary Farm Assurance, OPMA) for smaller operations. CCI's service portfolio has expanded into adjacent verticals including U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA) Classic and 21+ certification, Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) compliance for importers, and European schemes (SMETA, GlobalG.A.P., IFS, BRC) delivered through a partnership with EuroCert.

CCI generates revenue on a fee-for-service basis, with pricing set per audit scheme and operation complexity and not publicly disclosed; the company will price-match competitors and offers group pricing through the CCI Grower's Cooperative, which consolidates multiple growers under a single certification. Distribution is sales-led: scheme-specific managers handle direct phone and email outreach, and auditors travel on-site to client farms, packinghouses, coolers, and processing facilities across the United States. CCI also operates Epicure Document Management, a separate division that collects, tracks, and manages supplier food safety certificates on a recurring basis, extending beyond discrete audit events. CCI cites a 99% annual client retention rate and assigns the same auditor to a client for up to three years, indicating a relationship-driven, recurring revenue model in a niche professional services market dominated by larger global CBs.

Name

Ceres Certifications, International

Legal name

Ceres Certifications, International, Inc.

Website

https://ceresci.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ceres Certifications, International is an ANAB-accredited U.S. certification body that conducts GFSI-level food safety audits (SQF, PrimusGFS) and non-GFSI inspections for produce growers, food processors, hemp brands, and importers through on-site field-based auditing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Certification and Auditing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

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), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE), Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH)

Keywords

• Food safety certification
• GFSI audit services
• Third-party auditing
• Produce industry certification
• Regulatory compliance audits

Headquarters

HQ city

Chippewa Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Safety Certification Audits: CCI generates revenue by conducting food safety certification audits including GFSI-level audits (SQF, PrimusGFS) and non-GFSI inspections (Primus Standard, PFA, OPMA). Fees are comparable to other Certification Bodies and are structured based on the robustness of each individual audit scheme.
2. Pre-Assessment Audits: CCI offers on-site pre-assessments to evaluate organizational readiness toward certification audits. These are separate billable services distinct from certification audits.
3. Epicure Document Management Services: CCI developed Epicure Document Management as a new division providing supplier certificate management services at an extremely low cost.
4. Group Pricing Programs: CCI offers group pricing for brokers, associations, and co-ops through the CCI Grower's Cooperative, allowing multiple growers to consolidate under single certifications at reduced rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ceres Certifications, International (CCI) operates as an ANAB-accredited Certification Body conducting GFSI-level and non-GFSI food safety audits (SQF, PrimusGFS, Primus Standard, PFA, OPMA, USHA, EuroCert, FSVP) on-site at client farms, packinghouses, processors, and storage/distribution facilities across the United States. The company also runs a group certification cooperative and a supplier document management service (Epicure).

Product overview

Ceres Certifications, International (CCI) offers a comprehensive portfolio of food safety certification and audit services. The company operates as a single integrated platform with multiple certification programs: GFSI-level audits including SQF and PrimusGFS for globally recognized food safety certification; non-GFSI inspections such as Primus Standard (PSA), Primary Farm Assurance (PFA), and OPMA for domestic compliance; specialized offerings including USHA hemp certification, EuroCert for European standards, and FSVP for FDA foreign supplier compliance; document management through Epicure Document Management; and group certification via CCI Grower's Cooperative. Premium Services and additional audit offerings complement the core certification products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Epicure Document Management: A division of CCI focused on managing supplier certificates and documents for food safety compliance.

Products and services

• SQF (Safe Quality Food) GFSI-recognized food safety and quality certification program covering all sectors of the food supply chain, including SQF Food Safety Code, Quality Code, and Fundamentals programs.
• PrimusGFS (PGFS) GFSI-recognized audit covering farming, pre-processing, processing, and storage/distribution operations for plants, grains, pulses, and perishable products.
• Primus Standard Audit (PSA) Non-GFSI food safety audit focusing on Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) with optional HACCP for the agricultural sector.
• Primary Farm Assurance (PFA) Entry-level GLOBALG.A.P. stepping stone certification for emerging and small-scale producers to access local and regional markets.
• OPMA (Ohio Produce Marketing Agreement) Three-tier statewide food safety certification program for Ohio agriculture, with universal applicability for nationwide participants.
• CCI Grower's Cooperative Group GAP certification program allowing multiple growers to obtain certification under a single certification through shared resources and collaboration.
• USHA (US Hemp Authority) Hemp product certification covering the Classic program for non-intoxicating CBD products and the 21+ Adult program for delta-8 and delta-9 THC products.
• EuroCert CCI acts as a Certifying Body for EuroCert, offering SMETA, GlobalG.A.P., ISO 22000, Non-GMO, EAOTEN 22005, FSSC 22000, IFS Food, IFS Broker, and BRC certifications.
• FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) FDA compliance program covering verification procedures for imported food shipments under the Preventive Control rule or Standards for Produce Safety rule.
• Epicure Document Management Supplier certificate management service that collects, tracks, and manages suppliers' certification documents for continuous compliance.
• Other Inspections & Certifications Additional audit and inspection services including Small Farmer/Packer/Processor Certifications, Sprout and Mini-Green Audits, Natural Audits, Vegan Inspection, and Certificates of Analysis/Authenticity.
• Premium Services Additional premium support services beyond standard certification audits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% annual client retention rate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EuroCertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI is a Certifying Body for EuroCert, offering SMETA and GlobalG.A.P. certifications through this partnership. CCI is committed to providing the highest quality service to processors and growers.
• US Hemp Authority (USHA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCI performs quality audits for the USHA program including the Classic program for non-intoxicating hemp products like CBD and the Adult program for delta-8 and delta-9 THC hemp products. CCI provides assistance with each step of the certification process.
• AzzulecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimus Standard audits are powered by Azzule System Integrated Technology. CCI uses the Azzule platform for audit scheduling and management through their platform.
• PrimusGFScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI is accredited by ANAB under ISO/IEC 17065:2012 to conduct PrimusGFS v3.2 audits covering farming, processing, storage, and distribution scopes.
• SQF (Safe Quality Food)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI is accredited as a certifying body for SQF Edition 9 under ISO/IEC 17065:2012. CCI offers SQF Food Safety Code, Quality Code, and Fundamentals programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Intertek provides food safety auditing, certification, and testing services across global supply chains, including GFSI-recognized schemes. Comparable to CCI on certification delivery with broader industry and geographic reach.
• NSF International: NSF provides GFSI-recognized food safety certification (SQF-licensed CB), testing, and auditing across the global food supply chain. Directly comparable to CCI as an accredited CB offering SQF, but with broader food, water, and consumer-products scope.
• SGS Group: SGS is a global testing, inspection and certification company that conducts GFSI audits (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) for food manufacturers and growers. Overlaps CCI's certification portfolio but at multinational scale across many industries.
• Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is a leading food testing and certification group offering GFSI-recognized audits and laboratory testing for the agri-food industry. Directly comparable to CCI on the certification side, but bundled with deep lab-testing infrastructure CCI lacks.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas offers food safety certification and auditing services including FSSC 22000, BRC and SQF across global supply chains. Comparable to CCI in GFSI audit delivery but with significantly broader geographic and vertical reach.
• DNV (Food & Beverage): DNV offers accredited food safety certification including FSSC 22000 and BRC. Overlaps CCI on third-party certification with multinational scale and a strong management-systems heritage.

Direct peers

• Perry Johnson Registrars (PJR): PJR is an accredited certification body offering ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, SQF and other food safety management certifications. Comparable mid-sized US-based CB competing in the same food-safety certification market as CCI.
• SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services provides third-party food safety, organic, and sustainability certification for producers and processors in North America. Directly comparable to CCI as a mid-sized US-accredited CB serving agriculture and food producers.
• Quality Assurance International (QAI): QAI is a USDA-accredited organic and food safety certification body offering organic, Non-GMO, and GFSI-benchmarked audits. Closely comparable to CCI in offering complementary certification programs to produce and food clients.

Others

• Primus Auditing Operations (Azzule): Azzule operates the PrimusGFS and Primus Standard schemes and powers CCI's audit management platform. Related ecosystem participant — a scheme owner / technology partner that is adjacent to CCI's operations rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceres-certifications-international-cci-
• Xx.com/cerescert

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Ceres Certifications, International