UPC Southeast LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Pasteurization Co. (UPC), Lincoln, Neb., acquired the former Reinhart Foods facility in Villa Rica, Ga., expanding its operations into the southeastern United States. Initially, this 90,000-square-foot facility will house two large high-pressure processing (HPP) systems with the ability to expand to as many as six HPP processing systems and create 60 new jobs.

HPP has become the preferred technology to produce safe, clean label products with extended shelf life. HPP is a USDA- and FDA-recognized process that utilizes hydrostatic pressure to destroy harmful bacteria in foods. HPP‘s widespread adoption includes ready-to-eat proteins, raw poultry chubs, wet (spoonable) salads, premium juices and other high-quality food products.

"We are excited to expand our network of tolling locations to better serve our existing as well as future customers,” says Jeff Barnard, president. “We are making this significant investment in the Southeast to help our customers meet the demand for HPP products they are seeing in the market. Finally, UPC would like to extend its appreciation to all of the Georgia and local agencies involved for making the UPC expansion a possibility.”

To learn more about HPP, check out Refrigerated & Frozen Foods' Food Safety section of its September 2013 issue.