Association of European Coeliac Societies

What Association of European Coeliac Societies does

The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) is a non-profit umbrella federation founded in 1988 and registered in Belgium (BE0460502154), headquartered at 4 Rue de la Presse, Brussels. It represents 38 full national coeliac societies across Europe plus affiliate members in the USA, Canada, Georgia, and Jordan, serving an estimated 7+ million Europeans with coeliac disease of whom only approximately 25% are diagnosed. Its mission is to improve the safety, availability, and labelling consistency of gluten-free food, coordinate knowledge-sharing among member societies, and advocate for coeliac patients at European and international levels.

AOECS's core commercial asset is the Crossed Grain Trademark (CGT), a globally registered certification mark licensed to food business operators across 30+ European countries, currently applied to over 23,000 gluten-free products. The technical backbone is the AOECS Standard for Gluten-Free Foods (version 3.0, binding since 1 January 2023), which specifies HACCP and cross-contact requirements, and the Gluten-Free Addendum, a bolt-on audit programme built with SGS that integrates with GFSI-approved food safety standards. Supporting products include the Gluten Free Alliance industry partnership programme, AOECS-trained auditor and certification body network, annual conference and Gluten-Free Marketplace exhibition, free awareness webinar series, the Scientific Research eBook, and the Coeliac Youth of Europe network.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) Crossed Grain Trademark licensing royalties administered via national member societies, (2) national society membership fees, (3) annual conference delegate and webinar sponsorship income, and (4) charitable donations and grants including the AOECS Central Emergency Fund, which has raised over 160,000 EUR for humanitarian relief and shipped 38,000+ kg of gluten-free food to Ukrainian coeliac families since 2022 and extended operations to Gaza in 2024. The organisation is governed by an annual General Assembly of member societies and led by Chair Tunde Koltai (with Floris van Overveld previously serving as Chair at Codex) and Secretary General Veronica Rubio.

Name

Association of European Coeliac Societies

Legal name

Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS)

Website

https://aoecs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) is a Belgium-registered non-profit umbrella federation of 38 European national coeliac societies that operates the Crossed Grain Trademark gluten-free certification across 30+ countries (23,000+ products), sets the AOECS Standard, and advocates for an estimated 7+ million Europeans with coeliac disease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy & Gluten-Free Certification

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gluten-Free & Allergen-Free Certification Services (AFALAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI)

Keywords

• Gluten-free certification
• Patient advocacy
• Trademark licensing
• Food safety standards
• Non-profit federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crossed Grain Trademark Licensing: Food business operators pay licensing fees to national coeliac societies to use the Crossed Grain Trademark on their products. One licence covers use across over 30 European countries. Over 23,000 products are currently licensed.
2. National Society Membership Fees: National coeliac societies pay membership fees to belong to AOECS as full or affiliate members, gaining access to resources, advocacy representation, the licensing scheme, and the General Assembly.
3. Annual Conference Fees: Revenue generated through delegate registration fees at the annual AOECS General Assembly and Conference. The conference is open to members and external visitors on selected days.
4. Donations and Emergency Fund Contributions: AOECS collects charitable donations into its Central Emergency Fund for humanitarian crises (Ukraine, Gaza), which are used to procure and ship gluten-free food. Donations are received from private individuals, companies, and other organisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AOECS is a non-profit umbrella federation that represents 38 national coeliac societies across Europe and operates the Crossed Grain Trademark gluten-free certification programme, covering 23,000+ licensed products across 30+ countries. Its core deliverables are the proprietary AOECS Standard for Gluten-Free Foods v3.0, trademark licensing and audit services to food business operators, patient advocacy with European institutions, humanitarian aid via the AOECS Emergency Fund, and education/training programmes for clinicians and member societies.

Product overview

AOECS is a membership-based non-profit organization representing national coeliac societies across Europe. Its core product is the Crossed Grain Trademark, a Europe-wide gluten-free certification licensing system that allows producers to use one trademark license across over 30 countries. The AOECS Standard for Gluten-Free Foods (now in version 3.0) provides the technical requirements and HACCP guidance for license holders. The portfolio also includes the Gluten-Free Addendum (a bolt-on audit module for GFSI standards built with SGS), the Gluten Free Alliance (strategic industry partnerships), and various advocacy services including the Central Emergency Fund for humanitarian crises, annual conferences, the Gluten-Free Marketplace exhibition, and the Scientific Research eBook. Supporting services include auditor training programs, the Coeliac Youth of Europe youth network, Coeliac Day Virtual Run fundraising events, and free awareness webinar series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crossed Grain Trademark: A widely recognized certification trademark for gluten-free products in Europe, licensed to food producers and retailers across over 30 European countries
• AOECS Standard
• AOECS Central Emergency Fund
• Coeliac Youth of Europe (CYE)

Products and services

• Crossed Grain Trademark (Gluten-Free Certification Programme)
• AOECS Standard for Gluten-Free Foods v3.0
• Gluten-Free Addendum (with SGS)
• AOECS Auditor Training
• AOECS Annual Conference
• Gluten-Free Marketplace (Exhibition)
• AOECS Emergency Fund
• Focus IN CD E-Learning Courses
• Coeliac Youth of Europe (CYE)
• Scientific Research eBook

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 23,000 gluten-free products licensed under the Crossed Grain Trademark across 30+ European countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EU Specialty Food IngredientsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Participated as a stakeholder in the first-ever European Parliament debate on gluten-free safety in the catering sector convened by AOECS on 13 May 2026, hosted under the auspices of MEP Peter Agius.
• FoodDrinkEuropeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Participated as a stakeholder in the first-ever European Parliament debate on gluten-free safety in the catering sector convened by AOECS on 13 May 2026, hosted under the auspices of MEP Peter Agius.
• Compass GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Participated as a stakeholder in the first-ever European Parliament debate on gluten-free safety in the catering sector convened by AOECS on 13 May 2026, hosted under the auspices of MEP Peter Agius.
• nHow HotelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Participated as a stakeholder in the first-ever European Parliament debate on gluten-free safety in the catering sector convened by AOECS on 13 May 2026, hosted under the auspices of MEP Peter Agius.
• Specialised Nutrition EuropeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Participated as a stakeholder in the first-ever European Parliament debate on gluten-free safety in the catering sector convened by AOECS on 13 May 2026, hosted under the auspices of MEP Peter Agius.
• Dr. FalkminorOthers · 1 January 2025Dr. Falk pharma GmbH & Co KGaA sponsored the 2025 AOECS International Coeliac Day Awareness Webinar Series.
• Jordanian Coeliac AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Leads on-the-ground coordination for the AOECS Emergency Initiative for Gaza, managing direct contact with NGOs operating in Gaza and knowledge of registered coeliac patients. Coordinates with AOECS and Italian Coeliac Association to ensure aid reaches beneficiaries.
• Italian Coeliac Association (AIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Provides technical capacity to assess the nutritional needs of the coeliac population in Gaza and identify appropriate food and medical aid. Has previous experience in assisting coeliacs in emergency settings. Also a full member society of AOECS.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Humanitarian logistics partner for shipping approved gluten-free supplies from Jordan to Gaza through established humanitarian channels under the AOECS Emergency Initiative for Gaza.
• Coeliac Disease Foundation (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Affiliated member of AOECS. Worked closely with AOECS during the Codex CCFL49 advocacy campaign to include coeliac disease in the PAL framework. Marilyn Geller from the Foundation participated in the global task force alongside AOECS Chair Floris van Overveld.
• Coeliac CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated with AOECS in a global task force to advocate for the inclusion of coeliac disease and gluten within the Codex PAL framework adopted at CCFL49 in Ottawa. Melissa Secord from Coeliac Canada co-authored the advocacy positions.
• Coeliac UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Alex Costigliola from Coeliac UK provided technical expertise in the Codex CCMAS working group, bridging scientific experts and patient organisations. AOECS established a global task force that included Coeliac UK for Codex advocacy.
• Austrian Coeliac SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hertha Deutsch from the Austrian Coeliac Society represented the coeliac community in Codex CCMAS discussions, successfully advocating for the removal of an unverified PCR-based method for gluten detection from the list of methods under consideration.
• International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ICC and AOECS joined forces to provide initial reactions to a CCMAS discussion paper on Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) at the Codex CCMAS meeting in Budapest in May 2024. ICC is a global organisation dedicated to cereal science and technology.
• Takeda PharmaceuticalsminorOthers · 1 January 2023Takeda provided a grant supporting AOECS's 2023, 2024, and 2025 International Coeliac Day webinar series aimed at raising awareness on coeliac disease challenges. Takeda is also mentioned as a platinum sponsor of the 34th AOECS General Assembly in Lisbon (2022).
• United European Gastroenterology (UEG)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023AOECS participated in the UEG Digestive Health Roundtable at UEG Week 2023 and 2025, bringing the coeliac patient perspective to Europe's largest digestive health event (11,000+ participants from 115 countries). AOECS supports UEG's Digestive Health Manifesto 2025.
• Human DiagnosticsminorOthers · 1 January 2023Provided complimentary coeliac disease diagnostic tests at the Gluten-Free Expo in Tbilisi organised by GNCA, the National Association of Celiacs of Georgia (newest affiliate member of AOECS).
• Dr. SchärminorOthers · 1 January 2022Dr. Schär served as a platinum sponsor of the 34th AOECS General Assembly in Lisbon (2022). Dr. Schär is a major gluten-free food producer and supporter of AOECS events.
• NestléminorOthers · 1 January 2022Nestlé donated gluten-free cereal products for the 2022 CYE Summer Camp in Latvia, which also hosted Ukrainian coeliac families. Nestlé also launched a gluten-free cereal product in 2022.
• SchärminorOthers · 1 January 2022Schär donated gluten-free food products for the 2022 CYE Summer Camp in Latvia, which also hosted Ukrainian coeliac families. Schär is also a platinum sponsor of the AOECS General Assembly.
• ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022AOECS is represented at the annual ESPGHAN conference, the largest paediatric gastroenterology meeting worldwide, to engage with thought leaders and stay connected to scientific research in the field.
• SGScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 December 2021AOECS and SGS built the Gluten-Free Addendum, a bolt-on audit programme for other GFSI-approved food safety standards. SGS, a leading certification and testing company, participated as a gold sponsor at the AOECS 34th General Assembly in Lisbon (2022).
• BRCGScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2021AOECS and BRCGS joined forces in 2021 to promote greater access to safe and reliable gluten-free products in Europe. BRCGS is a leading global brand in food safety and is one of the GFSI-approved standards against which the AOECS Gluten-Free Addendum provides a bolt-on certification.
• Interreg Central Europe / Focus IN CDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AOECS participated in Focus IN CD, an international initiative funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Interreg, developing free online courses on coeliac disease for patients and healthcare professionals. Twelve partners from Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia were involved.
• German Coeliac Society (Deutsche Zöliakie Gesellschaft e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Full member of AOECS. Contributed to the Focus IN CD e-learning project developing free online courses on coeliac disease.
• Croatian Coeliac Society (UDRUGA ZA CELIJAKIJU PGŽ RIJEKA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Full member of AOECS. Contributed to the Focus IN CD e-learning project developing free online courses on coeliac disease.
• German Child Health Foundation (Stiftung Kinder Gesundheit)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in the Focus IN CD e-learning project funded by Interreg Central Europe, contributing to the development of free online courses on coeliac disease.
• European Patients Forum (EPF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AOECS is a member of the European Patients Forum. Secretary General Veronica Rubio and Chair Tunde Koltai participated in the EPF Leadership Meeting on Artificial Intelligence in April 2024.
• Coeliac Youth of Europe (CYE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CYE is the official youth section of AOECS, open to coeliacs aged 18-30 who are members of a national coeliac society. CYE organises the annual Summer Camp, the Travel Net project, and represents the youth voice within AOECS governance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coeliac UK: National coeliac society and AOECS full member. Directly comparable as a patient-organisation running its own gluten-free certification scheme (Crossed Grain license in the UK) and providing coeliac advocacy, mirroring AOECS's federation model at the country level.
• AIC - Associazione Italiana Celiachia: Italian Coeliac Association and AOECS full member. Runs a parallel national gluten-free certification scheme and contributes technical expertise to AOECS humanitarian work, making it a directly comparable national federation peer.

Emerging players

• Beyond Celiac: US non-profit focused on coeliac disease advocacy, research funding, and patient support. Comparable mission (driving diagnosis, treatment, and cure) but US-centric and not part of the AOECS federation.
• Allergen Bureau / VITAL Program: Australia-based industry body that develops the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL) reference doses, conceptually parallel to AOECS's role in Codex PAL. Comparable as an allergen-labelling standards body but operating in a different geography and food industry context.
• Coeliac Disease Foundation: US-based coeliac patient advocacy organisation and AOECS affiliate member. Comparable as a coeliac-specific advocacy and awareness body, with overlapping Codex and global research partnerships but operating under different regulatory and funding dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance: Global certification and testing company that co-built AOECS's Gluten-Free Addendum and serves as a third-party auditor. Comparable as an accreditation and certification services provider but operating across all industries, not just gluten-free.
• BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards): Global food safety standards body whose GFSI-approved standards form the backbone of the Gluten-Free Addendum. Comparable as a food-safety certification ecosystem player but operates across all product categories rather than specialising in gluten-free.

Others

• FoodDrinkEurope: European food and beverage industry confederation that participated as a stakeholder in AOECS's May 2026 European Parliament gluten-free catering debate. Comparable as a pan-European food-policy stakeholder but representing industry rather than patients.
• United European Gastroenterology (UEG): European umbrella for digestive-health professional societies, hosting the Digestive Health Roundtable that AOECS participates in. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder medical/patient forum relevant to coeliac disease, though clinical- rather than patient-led.
• European Patients' Forum (EPF): Umbrella organisation for European patient groups of which AOECS is a member. Comparable as a cross-disease patient-advocacy federation operating at EU policy level, but covering all chronic disease areas rather than specialising in coeliac disease.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-european-coeliac-societies-aoecs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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