The question that any food safety consultancy receives most frequently is always the same: «How much does it cost to prepare IFS Food certification?» The short answer is that it depends on several factors which we will analyse in detail, but the market ranges for a Spanish food SME in 2025-2026 fall between €4,000 and €18,000 in the preparation phase with external consultancy, plus the cost of the certification audit paid to the certification body. This article breaks down all the budget lines so you can plan your budget without surprises.
What is IFS Food and why do more and more Spanish food companies need it?
IFS Food (International Featured Standards Food) is the reference standard for food safety and innocuousness in the European distribution chain, especially in the organised large retail channel (GDO): Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, Eroski, El Corte Inglés and their own-label chains. In IFS Food version 8, in force since 2023, the standard requires very specific requirements in four categories: food safety management, quality management system, production processes and measurement, analysis and improvement.
In Spain, demand for IFS Food has grown significantly in recent years because many European retailers — especially German and French ones — require it as a sine qua non condition for listing a private-label product. According to data from IFS Management GmbH, more than 14,000 companies worldwide hold an active IFS Food certificate, and Spain ranks among the top five countries by number of active certifications in Europe.
The certification is issued by an independent accredited certification body (AENOR, Bureau Veritas, SGS, Lloyd's Register, TÜV, Intertek, among others); the consultancy does not certify, but rather accompanies the company throughout the entire implementation process until the certification body's auditor approves the system and awards the score that enables the certificate.
The two main cost items: consultancy and certification
Before getting into specific ranges, it is worth conceptually separating the two main budget lines because almost everyone confuses them:
| Budget line | Who invoices it | What it includes | Indicative range (SME) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation consultancy | External consultancy (e.g. Summum Calidad) | GAP diagnosis, document design, training, pre-audit support | €4,000 – €18,000 |
| Certification audit | Accredited certification body | Initial audit (Phase 1 + Phase 2) + certificate issuance | €1,800 – €4,500 |
| Annual surveillance audit | Accredited certification body | Recertification every 12 months (or every 6 if the score was low) | €1,500 – €3,500 |
| Annual system maintenance | External consultancy (retainer mode) | Document management, mock audits, regulatory updates, non-conformity support | €2,400 – €7,200/year |
Reference sources for audit ranges: rates published by AENOR, Bureau Veritas España and SGS España for the agri-food SME segment (2024-2025). The consultancy ranges correspond to market prices observed in the sector.
Factors that drive the IFS Food consultancy price
The range between €4,000 and €18,000 is wide. These are the real factors that determine where in that range your project sits:
1. The starting point: initial gap
If the company already has ISO 22000 or BRC Food, the gap relative to IFS Food is smaller: many HACCP, traceability and supplier management procedures already exist. In that case, the consultancy effort can be reduced by half. If the company is starting from scratch — with no documented HACCP, no traceability plan, no formal allergen management — the implementation work is much more extensive and the cost goes up.
2. Number of production lines and product categories
IFS Food applies the standard by certification scope. A company that processes a single product family (for example, cooked charcuterie) has a much more limited scope than one that produces four categories (ready meals, sauces, preserves and snacks). More lines means more specific procedures, more documented controls and more audit days from the certification body.
3. Number of employees and shifts
Internal training is one of the most variable budget lines. Training 20 operators in hygiene, allergens and good manufacturing practices is not the same as training 120 across three shifts. IFS Food 8 requires individualised training evidence for all employees involved in the process.
4. Prior documentary situation
Companies that have already undergone a customer audit or that have written procedures — even if not formalised under any standard — start with an advantage. Companies that have never documented their processes need the consultancy to create from scratch the system manual, operational procedures, control records and specialised plans (HACCP, allergens, cleaning and disinfection, pest control, traceability, non-conformity management, etc.).
5. Whether the target is Higher Level or Foundation Level
IFS Food 8 distinguishes between the Foundation level (for companies that supply exclusively to the local market or that are in the early stages of export development) and the standard level. Some major accounts explicitly require their supplier to achieve a score above 75% in the audit to remain on their approved supplier panel. Aiming for a high score implies greater documentary requirements and more mock pre-audit rounds.
6. Consultancy mode: on-site vs. remote
The pandemic consolidated the hybrid consultancy model. A significant part of the document review, classroom training and monitoring of non-conformity corrections can be done remotely, which reduces travel costs and allows consultancies like Summum Calidad — with offices in Valladolid, Burgos, Palencia, Aranda de Duero and Las Palmas — to serve clients across Spain at competitive prices. On-site visits are concentrated in the initial diagnosis and in the pre-audit preparation.
Phase breakdown: how the effort is distributed
An IFS Food implementation project for a typical SME (20-80 employees, one production plant, 2-3 product families, no prior certification) is usually structured in four phases:
Phase 1 — GAP Diagnosis (2-4 weeks)
The consultant visits the facility, reviews existing documentation and compares the actual state of the system against the more than 230 requirements of IFS Food 8. The result is a prioritised gap report that defines the work plan. This phase typically represents between 10% and 15% of the total consultancy cost.
Phase 2 — Document design and implementation (2-5 months)
This is the longest phase and the one that concentrates the most consultancy hours. Procedures are drafted or adapted, control records are designed, the HACCP study is updated, specialised plans are developed and it is ensured that all IFS Food 8 requirements are covered with verifiable evidence. This is where 50% to 60% of the total cost is allocated.
Phase 3 — Training and internal verification (1-2 months)
The team is trained in all new or updated procedures, simulated internal audits are carried out and non-conformities detected are corrected before the external auditor arrives. This phase typically accounts for between 20% and 30% of the cost.
Phase 4 — Support during the certification audit
The consultant accompanies the company (on-site or remotely) during the certification body's audit, responds to the auditor's clarification requests and manages the corrective action plan from the final report. This represents the remaining 5-10% of the consultancy cost.
IFS Food or BRC Food? Differences that affect cost
A frequent question is whether it is better to get certified in IFS Food, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety or both. The answer depends on the market the company targets:
| Criterion | IFS Food 8 | BRC Food Issue 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred market | France, Germany, Italy, Spain (GDO) | United Kingdom, Anglo-Saxon markets |
| GFSI recognition | Yes (benchmarked) | Yes (benchmarked) |
| Audit structure | Numerical score (% compliance) | Grade-based rating (A, B, C, D) |
| Documentary approach | High emphasis on records and quantitative evidence | More oriented towards food safety culture |
| Certification audit cost | Similar to BRC | Similar to IFS |
| Joint implementation with ISO 22000 | High compatibility, significantly reduces the gap | High compatibility as well |
| Can both be done together? | Yes; certification bodies offer combined audits at a discount (saving of 20-30% in audit days) | |
If your goal is the French or German large retail market, IFS Food is the required standard. If you sell mainly in the UK market or to Anglo-Saxon chains, BRC is more relevant. If the scope includes both markets, joint IFS+BRC implementation is the most efficient option: the documentary systems are 80% common and the additional cost compared to a single standard is only 20-25%.
Real timelines: how long does certification take?
Timelines depend on project complexity, but the usual ranges in the Spanish market are:
- Company with documented HACCP and prior system (ISO 22000 or similar): 3-5 months from the start of consultancy to the certification audit.
- Company without prior system, first certification: 6-10 months. Going faster without a consolidated system carries the risk of failing the initial audit and having to repeat it (which adds audit costs).
- Company with major non-conformities in the initial audit: There is a maximum period of 60 days to submit correction evidence to the certification body. If the corrections are not satisfactory, the audit is repeated.
What is usually not included in the standard budget
It is important that the consultancy budget includes a clause on the usual out-of-scope costs, to avoid surprises:
- Laboratory analyses: IFS Food 8 requires validating critical controls with analyses (microbiological, physico-chemical, allergen). Depending on the product, this can mean an additional €500 to €3,000 per year.
- Works or facility adaptations: If the initial audit detects structural non-conformities (surfaces not suitable for food use, absence of segregated changing rooms, ventilation problems), the cost of the works is independent of the consultancy.
- Document management or traceability software: IFS Food does not require any specific software, but many companies take advantage of the project to digitalise their records. The cost of the tool is separate.
- IFS database registration fees: The certification body uploads the certificate to the IFS Database platform, which implies an annual publication fee charged to the certified company (around €200-400/year depending on the plan).
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare IFS Food certification without an external consultancy?
Technically yes, provided the company has an internal technician with experience in IFS Food, HACCP and document management. In practice, food SMEs that try it without external support usually take more than twice as long, present major non-conformities in the first audit and end up hiring the consultancy at the correction stage — which turns out to be more expensive than having hired them from the start. A competent internal technician can take on part of the documentary work, but the external perspective and experience with certification body audits provides differential value that is hard to replicate internally.
How long does IFS Food certification last?
The certificate is valid for 12 months. IFS Food 8 distinguishes two certification levels based on the score obtained: the standard level (Foundation) is awarded for scores between 75% and 94.99% with no active KO, while Higher Level certification is awarded for scores of 95% or above. Below 75%, no certificate is granted. In all cases, annual recertification is mandatory to keep the certificate active in the IFS database.
What does a KO in IFS Food mean and how many times can I have one?
IFS Food 8 has 10 requirements marked as KO (Knock Out): senior management commitment and governance (1.2.1), HACCP CCP monitoring system (2.3.9.1), personal hygiene (3.2.2), customer agreement (4.1.3), raw material specifications (4.2.1.3), foreign body risk mitigation (4.12.1), traceability (4.18.1), internal audits (5.1.1), recall and food alert procedures (5.9.1), and corrective actions (5.11.3). Failing even one of the KOs automatically implies a zero compliance percentage for that requirement and the impossibility of obtaining the certificate in that audit, regardless of the rest of the score. This is why preparation must focus primarily on these ten points.
What is the economic return on IFS Food certification for an SME?
The most direct return is access to contracts with large retail chains or first-tier manufacturers that require certification from their suppliers. A certified company can enter approval panels from which it was previously excluded. Indirectly, the IFS Food system reduces incidents from customer complaints, improves returns management, optimises waste control and strengthens the food safety culture in the team. Companies that have quantified the impact report significant reductions in the cost of poor quality (complaints, product withdrawals, rework hours) after the first year of certification. Giving exact figures without knowing each company's reality would be imprecise, but the payback on the consultancy and implementation project is usually in the first or second year for companies that gain access to new accounts thanks to the certificate.
At Summum Calidad we have been accompanying food industries in Castilla y León, the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain in their IFS, BRC and ISO 22000 certification processes since 2007. If you would like a no-obligation assessment of the effort your specific project would require, our team can carry out an initial GAP diagnosis that gives you a real picture of the gap between your current situation and IFS Food 8 requirements, with a timeline and resource estimate tailored to your specific case.