instore - May 2017 - 44

news

NEED TO KNOW
Growing
enthusiasm for HPP
High Pressure Processing (HPP), a non-thermal
food preservation process that inactivates harmful
bacterial and food spoilage microorganisms, has been
recognized as the fastest growing technology for the
next decade in North America and Europe.

Distribution by sector
of the currently
running global
HPP machines
Meat products

21%
Fruits & vegetables

21%
Juices & beverages

20%
17%
9%
7%
3%
2%
Tolling

As such, the Association for Packaging and
Processing Technologies (PMMI) announced the
formation of an industry council - the Cold Pressure
Council - focused on the advancement of HPP.
The council, announced in April at ProFoodTech,
will address questions about the technology while
developing and formalizing industry best practices.
It will also promote networking among professionals
using the processing technology in the food and
beverage industry, while at the same time educating
consumers on the benefits of HPP manufactured
foods and beverages.

The council will address
questions about technology
while developing and
formalizing best practices.

Seafood

Ready meals

The HPP system involves the loading of airtight/
hermetically sealed packages into carrier baskets.
The baskets are inserted into the HPP vessel, which
then gets sealed by plugs. At this point, potable water
is pumped into the vessel creating isostatic pressure
(equal pressure on all sides) on the packages. Product
is held at a high pressure for up to six minutes, with
pressures and times varying by product. The pressure
disrupts the microbial biochemistry of pathogens and
spoilage bacteria, which helps preserve freshness and
increase shelf life.

SOURCE: PMMI

The system is used on ready-to-eat proteins, meat
tenderization, salsa, hummus, dips and sides,
prepared meals and more.

R&D

Dairy

44 * MAY 2017 * instore

Debates
and
definitions
to watch
A glimpse into the
c-store future?
As part of the NACS State of the Industry conference,
Oliver Schlake, a clinical professor at the University
of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business,
offered some ideas as to what the future of c-stores
could look like.
Among the predictions, Schlake said smart refrigerators could play an important role in the food
purchasing decision of consumers. Smart fridges can
connect to the internet and will be able so sense when
certain foods are running low. This will alert a drone
on top of the store - another one of Schlake's predictions - that could go to a nearby c-store or distribution
center to retrieve the food.
As far as the drone goes, Schlake says consumers
could have drone docks at their homes, allowing
c-stores to deliver food and products within minutes.
Schlake also sees a future where automated c-store
systems can size up a customer and deliver an
advertisement tailor-made for them in eight
seconds or less. The system could
use details like
bumper stickers,
vanity license
plates and even
the consumer's
clothes to decide
what kind of
advertisement
would fit their
needs.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - May 2017