Houwers Groep B.V.
Houwers Groep B.V. is the only NVWA-accredited (I243) food safety inspection institution in the Netherlands, serving hospitality, healthcare, ice cream, fresh food, and supermarket sectors with on-site inspections, digital HACCP platforms (CleanUpp, Audits.app), e-learning, and advisory services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersGeldermalsen, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Houwers Groep B.V. does
Houwers Groep B.V. is a privately-held, Netherlands-based food safety inspection and certification firm headquartered in Geldermalsen, serving Dutch food businesses across five primary verticals: hospitality (horeca), healthcare (zorg), ice cream (ijs), fresh food (vers), and supermarket chains (CBL-affiliated). Its customer base spans single-location SMBs to multi-location franchise and chain operators that require NVWA-compliant HACCP certification. The company is the only inspection institution in the Netherlands holding the I243 food safety accreditation and developed the first inspection control system accepted by the NVWA, enabling direct data transfer of inspection results to the Dutch regulator. Houwers has been operating for over 30 years in the food safety sector.
The company's product portfolio integrates traditional on-site inspection services with proprietary digital platforms. Core products include CleanUpp (a mobile and tablet application for digital HACCP registration, cleaning schedules, temperature monitoring, recipes, and allergen information), Audits.app (a web-based dashboard for inspection reporting, multi-location score tracking, improvement action management, and certification status), and Waaromdaarom.nu (an e-learning platform for food safety training). Houwers also delivers classroom and on-site training, HACCP certification audits, advisory services for businesses under NVWA intensified supervision, and allergen management tools. Technology integrations include LoRa-based temperature sensors supplied through partner Connect IoT for automated hourly cold chain monitoring.
Houwers generates revenue across four primary streams: recurring inspection contracts (typically annual or semi-annual), subscription-based digital platform access for CleanUpp, professional services (training and advisory), and e-learning module access. Training is priced at EUR 275 per participant for existing Houwers customers and EUR 395 for open enrollment. Go-to-market is conducted via direct sales (phone, contact form, dedicated sales email), enterprise field sales for franchise and multi-location accounts, referral channels through industry associations (notably the Vereniging van Ambachtelijke IJsbereiders) and the NVWA, and self-serve onboarding for digital platform products. Operations are exclusively within the Netherlands.
Houwers Groep B.V. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Houwers Groep B.V.
- Legal name
- Houwers Groep B.V.
- Website
- https://houwersgroep.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Houwers Groep B.V. is the only NVWA-accredited (I243) food safety inspection institution in the Netherlands, serving hospitality, healthcare, ice cream, fresh food, and supermarket sectors with on-site inspections, digital HACCP platforms (CleanUpp, Audits.app), e-learning, and advisory services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Houwers Groep B.V. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Safety Inspection Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Safety Auditing & Inspection Services (GFSI/Third-Party Audits) (AFALAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail, Foodservice & Catering Audits (Restaurants, Commissaries, Central Kitchens) (AFALABAG), Sanitation, GMP & Prerequisite Program (PRP) Audits (SSOPs, Hygiene, Pest Control) (AFALABAI), Process/Facility Hazard Analysis (HACCP Plans, CCP Determination) (AFALAOAE), Sanitation & Hygienic Design Compliance (SSOPs, GMPs) (AFALADAJ)
Keywords
Where Houwers Groep B.V. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geldermalsen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Houwers Groep B.V. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Food Safety Inspections: Core revenue stream from conducting inspections and assessments of food businesses (restaurants, care facilities, ice cream shops, fresh food retailers, supermarkets) to evaluate HACCP compliance and award green inspection ratings.
- Training and Workshops: Revenue from in-person training sessions, workshops, and e-learning module access on food safety topics. Training is offered both open-enrollment and at client premises. Pricing ranges from EUR 275 (customers) to EUR 395 (open enrollment) per participant.
- Digital Platform Subscriptions: CleanUpp app provides digital HACCP registration, temperature monitoring, and audit management. Revenue from SaaS-style platform access, potentially with per-location or subscription pricing.
- Advisory and Consulting: Advisory services for businesses under enhanced supervision by the NVWA, including improvement trajectory planning, HACCP plan development, and allergen management consulting.
- Training: Internal Auditor: One-day interactive training on internal auditing for food safety compliance. Offered as open enrollment (EUR 395) or client-specific at EUR 275 for Houwers customers.
- Training: Sustainability: Sustainability training for food businesses, aligned with circular economy objectives promoted by Houwers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Open enrollment training: Internal Auditor and Sustainability |
| Other | Multi-year contract | On-site / custom training and workshops |
| Subscription | Annual | Inspection services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Houwers Groep B.V. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Houwers Groep B.V. is a Dutch accredited food safety inspection institution (I243) that conducts HACCP-based inspections of food businesses, issues food safety certifications, and provides advisory services for companies under enhanced NVWA supervision. The company complements its inspection services with the CleanUpp digital HACCP registration platform, the Audits.app inspection management dashboard, and the Waaromdaarom.nu e-learning platform for staff food safety training.
Product overview
Houwers Groep B.V. operates as an accredited food safety inspection and consulting firm (I243), offering an integrated portfolio of inspection services and digital tools. The core offering centers on CleanUpp (digital HACCP registration and inspection management) and Audits.app (inspection reporting dashboard), supplemented by the Waaromdaarom.nu e-learning platform for staff training. Traditional services include on-site inspections (announced and unannounced), HACCP certification, and advisory for businesses under NVWA intensified supervision. The product portfolio spans five industry segments: hospitality, healthcare, ice cream, fresh produce, and supermarkets. Digital tools integrate with Connect IoT temperature sensors for automated monitoring.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CleanUpp: Digital HACCP registration and inspection solution/app developed by Houwers for food safety documentation and temperature monitoring.
- Audits.app
- Waarom...Daarom!
Products and services
- Food Safety Inspections Accredited (I243) inspection services for food businesses across hospitality, healthcare, ice cream, fresh produce, and supermarket sectors. Includes announced and unannounced inspections, HACCP certification audits, and advisory visits to help businesses achieve a green inspection rating.
- CleanUpp Digital HACCP registration and inspection platform available as a mobile/tablet app. Enables food businesses to manage digital checklists, temperature logs, cleaning schedules, recipes, and allergen information. Integrates with Audits.app for inspection reporting and Connect IoT for automated LoRa-based temperature monitoring.
- Audits.app Web-based inspection reporting and management dashboard. Displays Houwers inspection reports, improvement action plans, and certification statuses. Provides multi-location visibility into scores, open improvement plans, and contract compliance for franchise and chain clients.
- Waaromdaarom.nu E-learning E-learning and assessment platform for food safety knowledge development. Offers online modules including allergens, HACCP, and artisanal ice cream making. Enables businesses to train and certify employees on food safety requirements.
- Training and Workshops Classroom and on-site training sessions in food safety covering HACCP, hygiene codes, allergens, and sector-specific topics. Includes programs for Internal Auditors and Sustainability, offered as open enrollment (EUR 395 per participant) or customized in-house training (EUR 275 for Houwers customers).
- Advisory for Intensified Supervision Step-by-step advisory program for businesses under NVWA intensified supervision. Includes inspection, improvement plan development, unannounced follow-up inspections, and periodic control visits to achieve a green inspection rating and exit the supervision program.
- HACCP Certification and Checkpoint Voedselveiligheid HACCP certification support and the Checkpoint Voedselveiligheid certification system accepted by the NVWA. Services include certification audits, management reporting, and action planning for continuous improvement.
- Allergen Management Tools Digital and downloadable allergen management resources including the 14-allergen overview card, customizable allergen list template, and allergen matrix builder. Supports packaged and unpackaged food labeling requirements under Dutch and EU regulations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Houwers inspection results are directly transferred to the NVWA for clients using the Houwers self-control system, reducing duplicate regulatory burden.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Houwers Groep B.V.
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Houwers Groep B.V. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Houwers Groep B.V. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CleanUppcoreCleanUpp is a digital HACCP registration platform partnered with Houwers, providing clients with a mobile app for digital checklists, temperature monitoring, and audit report management. Houwers uses CleanUpp as its primary digital tool for clients to manage inspection-related documentation, registration, and temperature data. Integration with smart temperature sensors via LoRa enables automated data capture.
- Audits.appcoreAudits.app is Houwers' proprietary inspection management platform providing a dashboard for multi-location clients to track inspection scores, open improvement actions, certification status, and contract progress. The platform was developed and launched by Houwers and is now being rolled out with a new dashboard feature set.
- Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA)coreHouwers maintains a formal regulatory relationship with the NVWA. Houwers' control system is accepted by the NVWA, and results from Houwers inspections conducted under its self-control system are directly transferred to the NVWA. Houwers advises businesses under enhanced NVWA supervision through a structured 4-step improvement trajectory.
- Vereniging van Ambachtelijke IJsbereiders (VAIJ)coreHouwers serves as the official food safety inspection partner for the IJssalon van het Jaar competition organised by VAIJ, and inspecteurs participate in IJsVak-Wedstrijden as forerunners. This long-standing partnership positions Houwers as the authority on ice cream food safety in the Netherlands.
- Branche Hygiënecodes (Industry Hygiene Codes)coreHouwers operates within the framework of officially recognised branch-specific hygiene codes (hygiënecodes), which are sector guides for HACCP compliance. These codes are developed by industry associations and recognised by the NVWA. Houwers helps businesses implement and comply with applicable hygiene codes across all sectors.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Houwers Groep B.V. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LRQA: Global assurance provider offering food safety certification and auditing across multiple standards (FSSC 22000, BRC, SQF). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the food safety certification space.
- Eurofins: Global leader in food testing laboratories, including microbiological, chemical, and allergen testing with operations in the Netherlands. Comparable as a broad food-testing incumbent and adjacent competitor to Houwers' food safety inspection services.
- Intertek: Global TIC firm with food safety testing, auditing, and certification services including GFSI-recognised schemes. Comparable as a broad food-safety incumbent operating across multiple jurisdictions.
- Bureau Veritas: Global TIC company with a food and agricultural commodities vertical offering food safety audits and certification. Comparable as a broad food-safety incumbent that competes across multiple European markets including the Netherlands.
- TÜV Rheinland: Global testing, inspection, and certification group with food safety services including FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, and HACCP audits. Comparable as a broad food-safety incumbent active in European markets.
- DEKRA: German-origin global TIC firm providing food safety audits and certifications including FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000. Comparable as a broad incumbent in food safety certification with European reach.
- NSF International: Global public health and safety organisation offering food safety certification, GFSI scheme audits, and training. Comparable as a broad food-safety incumbent and standards body operating alongside Houwers in certification and training.
- SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with extensive food safety testing and certification services including FSSC 22000, BRC, and SQF audits. Broad incumbent in the food safety TIC space overlapping with Houwers' inspection and certification services.
- Mérieux NutriSciences: Global food testing, inspection, and certification provider serving the food industry with microbiological, chemical, and shelf-life testing. Comparable to Houwers as a food-safety TIC specialist, but at much larger global scale and with a broader service portfolio.
Direct peers
- Normec Group: Dutch testing, inspection, and certification group with food safety services across the Netherlands and Europe. Direct Dutch-market competitor offering food safety audits, inspections, and certification that overlap with Houwers' offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Houwers Groep B.V. social profiles
Digital presenceHouwers Groep B.V. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Houwers Groep B.V. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Houwers Groep B.V. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Houwers Groep B.V. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Houwers Groep B.V. 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 Houwers Groep B.V.
What does Houwers Groep B.V. do?
Houwers Groep B.V. is a Dutch accredited food safety inspection institution (I243) that conducts HACCP-based inspections of food businesses, issues food safety certifications, and provides advisory services for companies under enhanced NVWA supervision. The company complements its inspection services with the CleanUpp digital HACCP registration platform, the Audits.app inspection management dashboard, and the Waaromdaarom.nu e-learning platform for staff food safety training.
Is Houwers Groep B.V. a public or private company?
Houwers Groep B.V. is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Houwers Groep B.V. founded?
Houwers Groep B.V. was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Houwers Groep B.V. based?
Houwers Groep B.V. is headquartered in Geldermalsen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Houwers Groep B.V. make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Food Safety Inspections are the primary driver. The others are training and Workshops, digital Platform Subscriptions, advisory and Consulting, training: Internal Auditor and training: Sustainability.
Who are Houwers Groep B.V.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LRQA, Eurofins, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, TÜV Rheinland, DEKRA, NSF International, SGS and Mérieux NutriSciences. Normec Group is listed as a direct peer.
Does Houwers Groep B.V. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Houwers Groep B.V..
What industry is Houwers Groep B.V. in?
Houwers Groep B.V.'s product category is Food Safety Inspection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAAAB, Food Safety Auditing & Inspection Services (GFSI/Third-Party Audits), with a secondary code of AFALABAG, Retail, Foodservice & Catering Audits (Restaurants, Commissaries, Central Kitchens). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.