Mérieux NutriSciences has signed an agreement to acquire Certified Group, the Warburg Pincus-backed testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) platform that generates approximately $300 million in annual revenue through a network of 31 laboratories across North America. The deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, materially expands Mérieux NutriSciences' coast-to-coast laboratory footprint and brings new capabilities in regulatory consulting and certification directly relevant to food and beverage operators managing complex supply chains and back-of-house quality programs.
What Certified Group Brings
Certified Group operates three core verticals. Its Food & Beverage arm — comprising Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) and Certified Laboratories — holds leading positions in protein, dairy, packaged foods, and FDA import services, making it a critical partner for commercial kitchens, commissary operators, and food manufacturers navigating strict safety and traceability requirements. A second vertical, COS, covers cosmetics, OTC products, and supplements testing, while Labstat International focuses on reduced-harm nicotine product testing. Supporting these verticals are specialized services including Lab Plus (contract research), EAS Consulting Group (regulatory consulting), and FSNS Certification and Audit, an accredited certifying body for GFSI schemes and animal welfare audits — credentials that foodservice operators and ghost kitchen commissaries increasingly rely on to demonstrate supply chain integrity.
For food and beverage producers and the commercial kitchens they supply, the combined organization promises faster turnaround times and localized service. "Through this deal, we are bringing more solutions closer to customers for faster turnaround times, continued commitment to quality and built-in network backup," said Sébastien Moulard, President North America at Mérieux NutriSciences.
Implications for Operators and the TIC Market
The North American food TIC sector is estimated at over $2.5 billion, according to Mérieux NutriSciences' own market estimates reflecting outsourced testing only. Consolidation at this scale has direct implications for foodservice operators, commissary kitchen managers, and equipment specifiers who depend on third-party lab partners to validate HACCP programs, cold-chain protocols, and sanitation efficacy — all areas where energy-and-sustainability investments in commercial kitchens increasingly intersect with regulatory compliance requirements.
Mérieux NutriSciences specifically committed to preserving and growing the FSNS business, with continued investment in specialized testing for North American beef, pork, and poultry producers. That focus matters for foodservice distribution hubs, protein-processing commissaries, and large-scale institutional kitchens that source from these supply chains. The addition of 24/7 dedicated lab operations across a multi-regional network also aligns with the operational tempo of ghost kitchens and cloud commissaries, where rapid pathogen testing and ingredient certification directly affect production scheduling. Operators evaluating cold chain and prep-and-storage programs will find the expanded FSNS audit and certification services particularly relevant as regulatory scrutiny of commissary-sourced ingredients intensifies.
Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, framed the deal in terms of technical breadth: "A more diversified, multi-regional network creates new opportunities for knowledge-sharing and technical leadership across a wider range of disciplines, empowering our teams to meet our customers' evolving needs." The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
