The Future Of The Global HPP Market: What You Need To Know

By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online

The rising demand for food and beverage products enabled and improved by HPP is creating opportunities for the global HPP market, but high costs compared to alternative-processing methods are creating some challenges

Increasing concerns over food safety and the growing demand for processed food in developing countries are the major forces driving the growth of the global, high pressure processing (HPP) market. HPP is a method of food preservation that uses high pressure instead of chemicals and preservatives to preserve food products.

Used to process foods with high levels of liquid content such as fruits, vegetables, and juices, HPP helps enhance the physical properties of the food and beverage products. Additionally, this method of processing offers extended shelf-life and improves food safety. HPP is also widely used in the processing of meat and seafood products. Among the other benefits, HPP helps to soften meat and enable the removal of meat from crustaceans.

Improving QA In The Meat & Seafood Chain

With regard to the various HPP technologies, the HPP market can be segmented into three major categories: vertical-PP equipment, horizontal-HPP equipment, and vessel-type HPP equipment. Of the various applications of HPP, the market is comprised of five major segments: meat, fruit and vegetables, seafood, juices and beverages, and others.

Due to the high per capita consumption of processed food, North America holds the largest share of the global HPP market by a wide margin. Other market drivers in the region include rising healthcare expenditure and an increase in health consciousness among consumers. Behind North America, Europe is the second-largest HPP market and the Asia-Pacific region comes in third. In the Asia-Pacific, market demand is primarily fueled by growing demand of processed foods in developing countries, such as China and India.

Adapting High Pressure Processing To Your Operation

Although there are numerous benefits and a rising demand for food processed using HPP, the high costs of HPP compared to alternative methods like chemicals, heat, and preservatives are the major factors hindering wide acceptance and use of HPP.

Leading global service providers of HPP services include All Natural Freshness, Ameriqual group, Safe Pac Pasteurization, American Pasteurization Company, and Millard Refrigerated Services. Some of the major food manufacturers that make use of HPP are Beskydy Frycovice A.S., Esteben Espuna, Fruity-Line B.V., IFANTIS Group, and Maple Lodge Farms.