What Primus Auditing Ops México does

Primus Auditing Ops (legal entity JS Audit Group, Inc.) is a privately-held, ISO/IEC 17065-accredited third-party certification body specializing in food-safety, organic, sustainability, and social-accountability audits for the fresh-produce industry. The company was established in March 2015 when Javier Sollozo acquired the Auditing Division of PrimusLabs, a produce-testing and auditing business founded in 1994, to satisfy GFSI conflict-of-interest rules. It is individually founder-owned, has no disclosed institutional investors, and operates from a US headquarters in Santa Maria, California, with regional offices in Guadalajara (Mexico), Viña del Mar (Chile), and Heredia (Costa Rica); staff count is approximately 35.

The company's product platform centers on certified audit schemes rather than proprietary technology. Core offerings include PrimusGFS (a GFSI-benchmarked scheme owned by partner Azzule Systems), Primus Standard Audits, GLOBALG.A.P., and GFSI Global Markets, supplemented by multi-jurisdictional organic certification (NOP/USDA, Mexican LPO, Costa Rica RN 29782, Chile Ley 20.089/SAG, EU Regulation 2018/848), sustainability standards (LEAF Marque, Sysco IPM, Sustainability Standard, Bee Better Certified), social compliance (SMETA via SEDEX Affiliated Audit Company status), and buyer-specific addendums (Costco, McDonald's, Sunkist, Tesco NURTURE, AH-DLL GROW, Albert Heijn/Delhaize). Recent platform activity includes PrimusGFS v4.0 (Aug 2025), Primus Standard v20.06 (2025), and a Fresh Papaya Addendum (Oct 2024); the company also runs a global Training Center offering FSVP, HACCP, PCQI, PrimusGFS, and social-responsibility courses.

The revenue model is fee-for-service professional services: per-audit fees plus annual certification/maintenance fees, billed on quote-based terms with 30-day net invoicing post-audit, plus course-registration revenue from the Training Center. Distribution is direct, through regional auditor teams and international audit coordinators. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company has no disclosed funding rounds, M&A, or capital structure beyond founder ownership; named enterprise buyer relationships (Costco, Sysco, Publix, Robinson Fresh, Markon) function as pull-through channels to underlying grower and producer clients rather than direct contracted revenue.

Name

Primus Auditing Ops México

Legal name

JS Audit Group, Inc.

Website

https://primusauditingops.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Primus Auditing Ops is an ISO 17065-accredited third-party certification body providing food-safety, organic, sustainability, and social-compliance audits for the fresh-produce industry, serving growers, packers, and retailers across the Americas from offices in the US, Mexico, Chile, and Costa Rica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Food Safety and Organic Certification Auditing

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory & Compliance Inspections Support (FDA/USDA/Local Authority Readiness) (AFALABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sanitation, GMP & Prerequisite Program (PRP) Audits (SSOPs, Hygiene, Pest Control) (AFALABAI), Social, Ethical & Sustainability Audits for Food Supply Chains (SMETA/SA8000, ESG-linked) (AFALABAL), Farm & Primary Production Audits (GAP, Aquaculture, Livestock) (AFALABAD), Traceability & Chain-of-Custody Certification (Mass Balance, Segregation, Identity Preserved) (AFALAMAK), Traceability, Mass Balance & Recall Mock Audits (Chain-of-Custody Verification) (AFALABAK), Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF)

Keywords

• Third-party food safety audits
• Produce certification services
• Organic certification audits
• GFSI benchmarking programs
• Social compliance auditing

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Maria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Third-Party Auditing Services: The company provides independent third-party auditing services for food safety certification, including PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P., Primus Standard, and other audit schemes. Revenue is generated through audit fees, certification fees, and related service charges.
2. Organic Certification: Certification services for organic products under multiple regulatory frameworks including NOP, LPO, EU 2018/848, and other national organic standards. Generates revenue through certification fees and annual maintenance fees.
3. Training Services: Public training courses offered globally including FSVP, PrimusGFS, HACCP, PCQI, and Risk Assessment training. Revenue generated through course registration fees.
4. Buyer Program Customization: Primus Auditing Ops helps buyers create their own checklists and guidelines for customized audits, including addendums for specific buyers like Costco, McDonald's, and Sunkist.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Primus Auditing Ops provides third-party food safety, organic, sustainability and social accountability audit and certification services for the fresh produce industry, delivered as independent certification body audits under schemes such as PrimusGFS, Primus Standard, GLOBALG.A.P., GFSI Global Markets, multiple national organic standards (NOP/USDA, LPO Mexico, RN 29782 Costa Rica, Ley 20.089 Chile, EU 2018/848), LEAF Marque, Sustainability Standard, Sysco IPM, Bee Better Certified and SMETA, as well as buyer-specific addendums (Costco, Sunkist, McDonald's, MGAP, Fresh Papaya, Black Widow, GRASP, NURTURE, SPRING, AH-DLL GROW, TR4 Biosecurity). The company also runs a public training center delivering FSVP, HACCP, PCQI, Risk Assessment and social responsibility courses to producers, auditors and supply chain personnel.

Product overview

Primus Auditing Ops is a third-party food safety auditing company providing certification services for fresh and minimally processed produce. The company operates as a platform of audit schemes and certification programs with PrimusGFS and Primus Standard Audits as its core audit certification programs, complemented by GLOBALG.A.P. certification and GFSI Global Markets Program support. The portfolio includes organic certification programs (NOP/USDA, LPO Mexico, RN 29782 Costa Rica, Ley 20.089 Chile, EU 2018/848 Regulation), sustainability standards (LEAF Marque, Sysco IPM, Sustainability Standard, Bee Better Certified), social accountability (SMETA), and buyer-specific addendums (Costco, Sunkist, McDonald's, MGAP, GRASP, NURTURE, SPRING, AH-DLL GROW, TR4 Biosecurity, Fresh Papaya, Black Widow). The company serves customers across the Americas with offices in USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PAO Organic: Organic certification services including NOP/USDA, LPO (Mexico), RN 29782 (Costa Rica), Ley 20.089 (Chile), European Union 2018/848 Regulation, and Organic Input Evaluation Program.

Products and services

• PrimusGFS A Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked and fully recognized audit certification program covering both Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) scopes, as well as Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS). The program covers the supply chain from pre- to post-farm gate production and provides an integrated supply chain approach for fresh produce operations.
• Primus Standard Audits Food safety audits focused on the agricultural sector including horticultural, grains, and pulses designated for human consumption. Establishes requirements for managing production, handling, processing, and storage of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, incorporating FDA FSMA requirements.
• GLOBALG.A.P. Certification Internationally recognized standard for farm production with three levels of compliance (Majors, Minors, and Recommendations). Covers food safety, sustainability, environmental, and worker social welfare issues, including annual inspections of producers and additional unannounced inspections.
• GFSI Global Markets Program GFSI Global Markets Program that helps companies that lack or have underdeveloped food safety systems meet the challenge of food safety while reducing hazards in global food supply chains and working towards market access through GFSI-recognized certification.
• FSMA Assessments FDA Food Safety Modernization Act compliance assessments including Produce Safety Rule Assessment, Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule Assessment, and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Assessment.
• NOP/USDA Organic Certification Federal regulatory program for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States. NOP accredits third-party organizations to certify that farms and businesses meet national organic standards.
• LPO (Mexican Organic Standards) Certification Mexican Organic Standards certification under SENASICA. Mexican laws require compliance with LPO for organic operations located in México, even if the final market is destined to other countries. Primus Auditing Ops holds Certifier ID SENASICA-OC-130819-14-CPAA-003.
• RN 29782 MAG Costa Rica Organic Certification Organic Agriculture Regulation Nº 29782-MAG certification mandatory for all organic products sold into Costa Rica and exported to the European Union. The company holds ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation for this scope.
• EU 2018/848 Organic Certification European Union organic certification under Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Covers unprocessed vegetables and vegetable products including seeds, and processed agricultural products for human consumption. Approved by the European Commission.
• SMETA Social Audits Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit methodology enabling businesses to assess sites and suppliers to understand working conditions in their supply chain. Available as 2-Pillar (Labor Standards, Health and Safety) or 4-Pillar (adds Environment and Business Ethics) audits. Conducted under Primus Auditing Ops' SEDEX Affiliated Audit Company status.
• LEAF Marque Certification Environmental assurance system recognizing more sustainably farmed products based on the sustainable farming principles of Integrated Farm Management (IFM).
• Sustainability Standard Certification Comprehensive set of environmental and social best practices with extra focus on advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM), addressing environmental protection, soil health, nutrient and irrigation management, air quality, waste and recycling, water and energy conservation, worker welfare, and emergency management.
• Sysco Sustainable/IPM Program Sysco Sustainable/Integrated Pest Management Program promoting environmental stewardship in partnership with Sysco Brand canned and frozen fruit and vegetable suppliers.
• Bee Better Certified Pollinator-focused farm certification program building on nearly two decades of on-farm research and development. The gold standard for supporting pollinators on-farm while maximizing crop health and acreage.
• Organic Input Evaluation Program Evaluation of inputs for use in organic agriculture, consisting of reviewing and evaluating the composition and manufacturing process of final products and raw materials, based on permitted substance lists by organic regulations.
• Chain of Custody Standard (GLOBALG.A.P. CoC) GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody Standard ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain and guaranteeing the integrity of certified products, from farm to retailer.
• Public Training Center (FSVP, PrimusGFS, HACCP, PCQI, Risk Assessment, Social Responsibility) Public training courses offered globally including FSVP, PrimusGFS v3.2/v4.0, HACCP, PCQI, Risk Assessment, and Social Responsibility. Available in both online and in-person formats; locations chosen based on volume of need, season, and service standards.
• Costco Wholesale Audit Program Food safety audit requirements for all Costco locations/facilities that process, pack, warehouse, or distribute consumable products. Primus Auditing Ops is a Costco-approved audit company offering multiple schemes to meet Costco supplier requirements.
• McDonald's Addendum PrimusGFS addendum for producers supplying fresh produce products to McDonald's, used in conjunction with PrimusGFS Farm and Harvest Crew Audit and McDonald's Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Standards.
• Sunkist SSOP Addendum SSOP addendum for Sunkist Growers packing facilities, developed by PrimusLabs, requiring certification to the PrimusGFS standard plus additional cleaning and sanitation standards.
• Ley Nº20.089 / SAG Chile Organic Certification National System for the Certification of Organic Agricultural Products. Primus Auditing Ops is approved by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Chile under registration number 033 for Crop Production and Processing scopes.
• Fresh Papaya Addendum Addendum addressing the needs and challenges of the papaya industry exporting to the United States, particularly relevant for operations that export fresh papayas.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Robinson FreshminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRobinson Fresh is a food service company that supports Primus Auditing Ops programs as a buyer organization requiring supplier certifications.
• CostcocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCostco requires annual third-party food safety audits for all locations/facilities that process, pack, warehouse, or distribute consumable products. Primus Auditing Ops is a Costco-approved audit company offering multiple schemes to meet Costco supplier requirements.
• PublixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublix is a grocery retailer supporting Primus Auditing Ops programs as a buyer organization requiring supplier certifications.
• SyscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSysco Sustainable/IPM Program initiated in 2004 to promote environmental stewardship in partnership with Sysco Brand canned and frozen fruit and vegetable suppliers. Primus Auditing Ops conducts third-party audits for suppliers under this program.
• SEDEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimus Auditing Ops is a SEDEX Affiliated Audit Company (AAC). SEDEX is the world's largest data platform with over 74,000 companies. This affiliation enables PAO to conduct SMETA audits worldwide.
• APSCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimus Auditing Ops is a full member of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA), the professional association for social compliance auditors.
• Azzule SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationAzzule Systems owns and manages the PrimusGFS Certification Program, which is GFSI benchmarked. Primus Auditing Ops is an authorized certification body for PrimusGFS audits and related documentation.
• Sustainable Food GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationSustainable Food Group owns and manages the Sustainability Standard. Primus Auditing Ops provides certification services for this standard covering environmental and social best practices.
• GLOBALG.A.P.coreTechnology or IntegrationGLOBALG.A.P. is an internationally recognized standard for farm production. Primus Auditing Ops is an authorized certification body providing GLOBALG.A.P. audits and certification services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers): USDA-accredited organic certification body serving US produce growers, overlapping with PAO's NOP/USDA organic certification services in the same client base.
• SCS Global Services: Specialized third-party certification body focused on sustainability, organic, and food safety audits (including GLOBALG.A.P. and GFSI schemes), closely comparable to Primus Auditing Ops in scope and customer base.
• FoodChain ID: Provides food safety, organic, and Non-GMO certification services to the food industry, including supply chain verification — a comparable specialized certification body competing in the same niche.

Broad incumbents

• SGS Group: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company providing food safety audits (including GFSI schemes) and organic certification services across global markets, overlapping with Primus Auditing Ops' multi-jurisdiction offerings.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) firm offering food safety certification, organic certification, and sustainability audits — a direct competitor in the third-party audit space.
• Intertek: Global assurance and testing company providing food safety audits and certifications, including GFSI schemes, with overlap in fresh produce and organic certification markets.
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas): Independent assurance provider with food safety certification and supply chain audit services, increasingly active in GFSI-recognized certification programs.
• NSF International: Global food safety testing, auditing, and certification organization offering GFSI-recognized audit schemes and FSMA-related services, directly competing with PrimusGFS in the fresh produce supply chain.
• TÜV SÜD: Global certification body offering food safety, organic, and sustainability certification services, including GFSI-recognized schemes, competing for multinational produce producers.

Regional players

• Letis (Letis S.A.): Latin American certification body offering organic, GLOBALG.A.P., and sustainability audits across South America, with similar focus on produce exporters and overlapping jurisdiction coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/primusauditmx

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Primus Auditing Ops México