From 0 to 95 Employees: Achile Van Gierdegom on Scaling Quality Guard

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-05-28

At just 30 years old, Achile Van Gierdegom leads a company with 95 employees, six locations, and operations across seven countries. Ten years ago, he joined Quality Guard, a niche player in food safety and auto-control. What started as a small solution has grown into a scalable model that's expanding fast. If things keep going like this, they'll double their revenue again this year. Quality Guard doesn't build hype or a flashy app. They build a product that works. A system that scales. And they pair that with a clear buy-and-build strategy. This isn't about chasing trends; it's about creating something solid that solves real problems for businesses. ### The Journey from Niche to Scale Achile didn't inherit this business. He stepped in a decade ago when Quality Guard was still finding its footing. The company focused on food safety and auto-control, a niche that might sound boring but is absolutely critical for businesses handling food. Over time, they refined their approach and built a system that clients could trust. That trust fueled growth, and soon they were expanding beyond their original market. Today, Quality Guard operates in seven countries. But scaling internationally isn't just about adding flags to a map. It's about understanding different regulations, cultures, and customer expectations. Achile had to learn fast, and he did it by staying grounded and focused on what works. ### Leading Young: International Responsibility at 30 Being a young leader with international responsibility comes with its own set of challenges. Achile describes himself as "street-smart" rather than "book-smart." He's impatient, commercial, and pragmatic. But behind that speed is discipline. Behind the expansion is a model that holds up. He talks openly about the tension between moving fast and maintaining structure. When you're growing quickly, it's easy to let processes slip. But Achile insists on balancing speed with solid systems. That means hiring the right people, setting clear expectations, and staying hands-on even as the company grows. ### Buy-and-Build: Growing Without Losing Culture Quality Guard's growth strategy relies heavily on acquisitions. But buying companies is the easy part. The hard part is integrating them without losing the culture that made you successful in the first place. Achile emphasizes cultural fit over everything else. When they acquire a company, they don't just absorb it; they look for alignment in values and work ethic. That's how you scale without becoming a faceless corporation. It's about building a team that feels like a team, even across borders. ### Balancing Speed and Structure One of the biggest challenges in a fast-growing company is the constant tug-of-war between speed and structure. Achile admits he's naturally impatient. He wants things done yesterday. But he's learned that structure isn't the enemy of speed; it's the foundation that allows speed to happen without chaos. - **Hire slow, fire fast:** Build a team you trust, and don't hesitate to let go of those who don't fit. - **Standardize processes:** Create systems that can scale, so you're not reinventing the wheel every time you grow. - **Stay close to the customer:** Even as you expand, never lose sight of who you're serving. > "I'd rather be street-smart than book-smart. That means knowing when to act and when to pause." - Achile Van Gierdegom ### What It Really Takes to Go Global Expanding into multiple countries isn't glamorous. It's about logistics, compliance, and building relationships in places where you don't know anyone. Achile's advice? Start with a strong home base, then move deliberately. Don't rush into new markets just because you can. Make sure you have the infrastructure, the team, and the capital to support it. For Quality Guard, the key has been staying focused on their core product while adapting to local needs. They don't try to be everything to everyone. They solve a specific problem really well, and that's what clients pay for. ### Final Thoughts This conversation is about building. Growing without burning out. And understanding what really goes into rolling out a business across multiple countries. Achile Van Gierdegom proves that age is just a number when you have the right mindset, a solid strategy, and the discipline to execute. If you're an entrepreneur looking to scale, take notes from someone who's doing it right now. It's not about the hype. It's about the work.