LiDestri Food & Beverage to offer HPP tolling services in New York

LiDestri Food & Beverage, a Fairport, N.Y.-based private label and contract manufacturer of food, beverages and spirits, announced the purchase of a high-pressure processing (HPP) asset. LiDestri plans to install and operate a tolling operation at its Lee Road facility in Greece, N.Y., under the name Finger Lakes Fresh Press. LiDestri partnered with Hiperbaric USA to purchase its newest and largest machine (the 525L), which is to be commissioned in November.

HPP is a method of food and beverage processing under which a product is subjected to elevated pressures to achieve microbial inactivation and to extend shelf life of refrigerated products. HPP can inactivate harmful food and beverage bacteria such as listeria, salmonella and E.coli.

For consumers, HPP has advantages over traditional pasteurization processes that use heat. It retains the fresh characteristics of food and beverage products by avoiding thermal degradation, resulting in fresh taste, better nutrient retention and improved texture and appearance.

“We are collaborating with various producers to identify food and beverage products that will benefit from HPP. Through this innovative approach, these companies will be able to offer customers great-tasting products and extended shelf life without the use of heat or chemical preservatives," said Frank Cavallaro, vice president of research and development for LiDestri.

Finger Lakes Fresh Press will operate as an independent wholly owned subsidiary of LiDestri Foods Inc., and represents the first operation of its kind in the Western New York region.

“We are excited to be expanding our business offerings to include HPP for refrigerated items," said Alan Davis, vice president of business development and contract manufacturing for LiDestri. "This new capability will enhance our position as a premier manufacturer of food and beverage products. In addition, this technology will provide a platform to LiDestri to further expand our manufacturing services in the fresh segment. We have already begun planning for Phase II, where additional HPP capacity will be added."