Two major investors are stepping in to back Mérieux NutriSciences' acquisition of Certified Group, a deal that would significantly expand the food safety testing company's reach across North America. Peugeot Invest and Continental Grain Company (Conti) will become strategic minority shareholders, pending customary regulatory approvals, joining long-term backers Sofina and Dassault Group on the company's cap table.
The Certified Group Deal
Certified Group brings approximately $300 million in revenue and a network of 31 laboratories across North America — assets that would grow Mérieux NutriSciences' presence in what the company estimates is a $2.5 billion outsourced food testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) market. For foodservice operators, food manufacturers, and retailers, the combined entity would mean broader access to localized, time-sensitive testing services across core categories including animal protein, dairy, and packaged foods. The acquisition also extends Mérieux NutriSciences into adjacent sectors such as cosmetics, health supplements, over-the-counter drugs, and reduced-harm nicotine products.
Upon closing of the Certified Group transaction, both Peugeot Invest and Conti will receive representation on Mérieux NutriSciences' Board of Directors. Alexandre Mérieux, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Institut Mérieux and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mérieux NutriSciences, called the move "an important step in our development" and credited the renewed commitment of existing shareholders as a signal of confidence in the company's long-term strategy.
Why Food Safety Investors Are Paying Attention
The investment reflects growing institutional conviction in food safety infrastructure as a resilient B2B category. Ari Gendason, co-CEO of Conti, framed the rationale directly: "The TIC industry sits at the center of this ecosystem, ensuring the resiliency and safety of the world's food supply." For Conti — a company with more than 200 years of history across food and agribusiness — the move aligns with a portfolio mandate to strengthen the global food supply chain from farm to fork.
Peugeot Invest CEO Jean-Charles Douin echoed that long-term outlook, noting the firm's focus on sectors undergoing market transformation. The TIC sector fits that profile: rising regulatory scrutiny, heightened consumer safety expectations, and growing supply chain complexity are all pushing food manufacturers and restaurant operators to demand faster, more comprehensive testing capabilities from their partners.
For industry professionals tracking food safety and supply chain developments, the Mérieux NutriSciences expansion signals continued consolidation in the North American testing space. With a laboratory network of over 140 accredited facilities and a global workforce of more than 10,000 employees, the company is positioning itself as a first-call partner for food businesses navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Operators and procurement teams evaluating food quality and compliance programs should watch how the combined Certified Group capabilities roll out across service tiers and geographic markets in the months following close.
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.
