Food and Beverage Producers Harness Tech to Meet Growing Consumer Demands

In 2018, consumers are on the search for “natural” and “functional” foods, reports say. As health consciousness rises, food and beverage producers are tapping new tech that processes and packages healthier, consumer-friendlier foods. 

Utah’s Gossner Foods, for example, hasn’t changed its Swiss cheese formula since the 1960s. They have, however, adopted new, modern equipment for aseptic cheese creation and milk packaging. Gossner boasts the US’s first Tetra Pak A6 filling machine—equipment that shapes, sterilizes, and then fills aseptic carton bottles from Tetra Evero. The preservative power of this packaging eliminates the need for refrigeration and preservatives, making the products stand out on the shelf. 

At Perfect Fit Meals, among the first companies to sell ready-to-eat (RTE) meals made with high-pressure pasteurization (HPP), a collaboration with Avure unleashed the power of HPP. The tech allowed for longer shelf life without altering heat-sensitive foods. Now the premium meals are sold nationwide and adapt to shifting consumer trends. 

Former EVP of Sam’s Club, Greg Spragg, hopped onto the Solve For Food team as CEO, seeing the potential for their nimble concept-to-consumption service. At the Food Innovation Center, the company allows processors to utilize potent MATS sterilization methods to rapidly develop new packaged foods faster than traditional big food producers can. 

The future of food and beverage processing is bright, with players big and small jostling for the next big hit in consumer trends. The only certainty is the guaranteed role of tech in this new era.