HACCP registration is mandatory in every professional kitchen, but most apps make it unnecessarily complicated. KitchenNmbrs focuses on simple, mobile HACCP registration for independent food service businesses, while other apps are often designed for large kitchens with complex processes. In this article we compare the HACCP features of KitchenNmbrs with alternatives like Apicbase, Horeko and paper-based systems.
HACCP features of KitchenNmbrs
KitchenNmbrs offers the essential HACCP registrations every kitchen needs, designed for speed and simplicity:
- Temperature logging: Refrigeration, freezer, core temperatures and heat holding
- Delivery checks: Log temperature and quality of incoming goods
- Cleaning records: Track which equipment was cleaned and when
- Allergen registration: All 14 EU-required allergens per dish
- Mobile entry: Register via smartphone, even in the cold room
💡 Example daily routine:
Morning check in 5 minutes:
- Fridge: 3°C ✓
- Freezer: -18°C ✓
- Fish delivery: 2°C upon arrival ✓
- Fryer cleaned yesterday ✓
Everything stored digitally, easy to find during inspections.
Comparison with Apicbase HACCP
Apicbase offers more extensive HACCP features, but is designed for chains with 10+ locations:
- Apicbase strengths: Automated reporting, supplier integration, extensive analytics
- Apicbase drawbacks: More complex, expensive (from €300/month), overkill for small kitchens
- KitchenNmbrs advantage: Simple, mobile, affordable (€24.99/month), quick entry
⚠️ Note:
No app automatically makes you HACCP-compliant. You still need to measure and register temperatures. The app only helps you record and retrieve data.
Comparison with Horeko and other alternatives
Many food service operators use different systems for HACCP registration:
- Horeko: Good HACCP module, but part of a larger POS system. More expensive and complex than necessary for HACCP alone.
- Paper lists: Cheap but hard to find data, easy to lose, not mobile-friendly.
- Excel/Google Sheets: Flexible but not mobile-friendly, no automatic date/time, no backup.
- Standalone HACCP apps: Often basic, no integration with recipes and allergens.
💡 Example: Save time during food safety inspections
Food safety authority asks: "Show us that you track refrigeration temperatures."
- Paper: 10 minutes searching through stacks
- Excel: 5 minutes to start computer and search
- KitchenNmbrs: 30 seconds on your phone
Less stress, more professional impression.
When KitchenNmbrs is the logical choice
KitchenNmbrs HACCP features are most suitable for:
- Independent restaurants with 1-5 locations
- Small teams that want to register quickly without hassle
- Mobile registration - even in cold rooms, storage areas, during prep
- Integration with food cost calculation and recipe management in one system
- Budget-conscious operators who don't want to spend €300+ per month
When other systems make more sense
Consider alternatives if you:
- Run a large chain: Apicbase or similar ERP systems offer more central management
- Already have a POS system with good HACCP module (like Horeko)
- Have very specific requirements due to kitchen type (e.g. meat processing facility)
- Only need HACCP and no food cost calculation or recipe management
💡 Practical example: Making a choice
Restaurant with 2 locations, 15 employees:
- Apicbase: €600/month for both locations
- KitchenNmbrs: €50/month for both locations
- Paper: €0/month but 5 hours/week extra administration
KitchenNmbrs saves €6,600/year vs. Apicbase, 260 hours/year vs. paper.
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Start free trial →How do you choose the right HACCP system? (step by step)
Determine your scale and budget
Count your locations and employees. Budget under €100/month? KitchenNmbrs or paper. Budget €300+? Consider Apicbase or ERP systems. Between €100-300? Look at POS systems with HACCP module.
Check your current systems
Do you already have a POS system with HACCP? Then you might not need anything extra. Are you already using food cost calculation? Then an integrated system like KitchenNmbrs makes more sense than separate tools.
Test mobile usability
Try registering on your phone in the cold room, during prep, with wet hands. If it doesn't work easily, you won't use it. KitchenNmbrs and modern apps are designed for this, Excel and paper are not.
✨ Pro tip
Test for free for 3 days before deciding. Register your temperatures and deliveries in KitchenNmbrs for a few days. If it doesn't feel natural, try alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
Can KitchenNmbrs replace all HACCP requirements?
KitchenNmbrs helps you register the main control points (temperatures, deliveries, cleaning, allergens). The responsibility for correct execution and compliance with all HACCP requirements remains with you as the operator.
Is KitchenNmbrs cheaper than Apicbase for HACCP?
Yes, KitchenNmbrs costs €24.99/month vs. Apicbase from €300/month. But Apicbase offers more features for large chains. For 1-5 locations, KitchenNmbrs is usually sufficient and much more affordable.
Can I export KitchenNmbrs HACCP data during inspections?
Yes, you can export and print registrations for food safety inspections. Data is retained for 2+ years as legally required. Much easier than searching through stacks of paper lists.
Does KitchenNmbrs HACCP work offline?
Limited. You can enter temperatures without internet, but for full functionality you need an internet connection. Most kitchens have WiFi these days, so this is rarely an issue.
Does my entire team need to use KitchenNmbrs for HACCP?
No, you can work with one account and distribute tasks. But if multiple people register (e.g. different shifts), they can each get their own login within the same business account.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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