Ecocert Group announces the acquisition of Nature’s International Certification Services (NICS), an organic certification agency in Viroqua, Wis. The acquisition of NICS significantly strengthens Ecocert’s presence in the U.S. and solidifies its position as a world leader in certification under the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP).
“Ecocert is an ecologically minded company whose mission is a lot like NICS’s,” says NICS owner Marta Engel. “With the new ownership, NICS will be able to offer even better services to our organic farms and businesses, which has always been the lifeblood of our company.”
NICS was founded by Dave Engel in 2005. With 24 employees, the company certifies around 1,200 operations, primarily in the Midwest and Texas.
“We are delighted and excited to continue the work initiated by NICS’s founders and to keep developing quality organic farming,” says Philippe Thomazo, CEO of Ecocert Group. “Bringing NICS into our company allows us to strengthen the Group’s presence in the U.S., the world’s largest market for organic products.”
Ecocert Group also operates Ecocert ICO, an NOP-accredited certification agency in Plainfield, Ind. The acquisition will not affect the organic certification of farms and businesses associated with NICS or Ecocert ICO.
