American Pasteurization Company, a leading High Pressure Processing (HPP) manufacturer, has acquired FreshCo Foods, a Milwaukee-based co-manufacturer of premium and specialty food products.
As part of the acquisition, FreshCo has been renamed APC Manufacturing.
American Pasteurization Company was founded in 2004 in Milwaukee and operates from a 140,000-square-foot facility equipped with six HPP machines. APC Manufacturing was founded in 2017 and has been adding capabilities and expanding its portfolio over the last year.
The company has three CIA-trained chefs who work with clients on all aspects of product development – from concept creation and testing to packaging development and production.
APC Manufacturing's packaging capabilities currently include bag, squeeze pouch and container filling of almost any shape or size, as well as induction seal application. "APC Manufacturing was originally established as a stand-alone company to provide co-packing services to clients of APC. Its rapid growth has required an infusion of capital that's best delivered by APC," says Justin Segel, co-founder and CEO of American Pasteurization Company. "APC Manufacturing operates in the same building as APC, so it's been an easy ownership transition."
APC Manufacturing currently produces a variety of products, including: hummus, fresh salsa and pico de gallo, salad dressing, baby food, macaroni and cheese, soups and stews, mashed potatoes and potato sides, stuffing, pasta salads, fresh salads such as tuna and chicken, sauces and marinades, and pesto and marinara.
The majority of APC Manufacturing's clients also utilize high pressure pasteurization provided by APC. HPP is a cold pasteurization technique where products that are already sealed in their final package are pasteurized by applying extreme hydrostatic pressure. HPP kills bacteria that can cause spoilage and food-borne illness and can extend a product's shelf life.
