Non-Thermal Processing Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2028 Segmented By Product (Meat & Seafood, Fruits & Vegetables, Beverages and Others), By Type (HPP, PEF, Ultrasonic, Irradiation, Cold Plasma and Others), By Application (Quality Assurance, Microbial Inactivation, Cutting, Emulsification & Homogenization, Cleaning and Others), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.21 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.62%
Fastest Growing Segment	Meat & Seafood
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1.88 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Non-Thermal Processing Market will grow from USD 1.21 Billion in 2025 to USD 1.88 Billion by 2031 at a 7.62% CAGR. Non-thermal processing encompasses preservation technologies such as High-Pressure Processing (HPP) and Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) that eliminate pathogens without applying significant heat, thereby retaining the food's original sensory and nutritional profile. The market is primarily driven by the escalating consumer demand for clean-label, preservative-free products that maintain a fresh-like quality, alongside stringent regulatory requirements for enhanced food safety. These drivers compel manufacturers to adopt methods that extend shelf life while minimizing the thermal degradation associated with conventional pasteurization.

However, the substantial initial capital expenditure required for specialized machinery and the complexity of integrating these systems into existing lines present a significant challenge to broader adoption. According to the Institute of Food Technologists, in 2024, 18% of surveyed food industry companies prioritized investments in thermal and non-thermal processing technologies to meet these evolving safety and quality standards. Despite this investment interest, the high operational and acquisition costs continue to impede rapid expansion, particularly among smaller manufacturing enterprises.

Key Market Drivers

Rising consumer demand for minimally processed and nutrient-rich foods creates a primary impetus for the non-thermal processing market. Modern health-conscious shoppers increasingly reject artificial additives and high-heat treatments that degrade nutritional value, preferring products that retain their natural freshness and bioactive compounds. Technologies like High-Pressure Processing (HPP) and Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) allow manufacturers to meet this expectation by inactivating pathogens without thermal degradation or chemical preservatives. This shift is substantiated by strong consumer sentiment; according to the Acosta Group, April 2024, in the 'Clean Label Insights Study', 81% of shoppers stated that purchasing clean-label food products is important to them, directly compelling manufacturers to integrate these gentler preservation methods into their production lines.

Simultaneously, the industry is heavily focused on extending shelf life and reducing food waste to improve supply chain sustainability. Non-thermal technologies are critical in this regard, as they significantly prolong the usability of perishable goods such as juices, meats, and ready-to-eat meals without altering their sensory qualities. According to JBT Avure, February 2024, in the 'The food-safe alternative: how HPP can boost food safety and shelf-life', HPP technology can extend the shelf life of products by up to 90 days, drastically reducing spoilage rates compared to traditional methods. This operational capability is fueling rapid sector growth. According to Hiperbaric, in 2024, the company projected a record-breaking revenue of €75 million, marking a 20% year-over-year increase attributed to the surging global adoption of these high-pressure technologies.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial initial capital expenditure and the complexity of integrating specialized machinery constitute the primary impediments to the expansion of the Global Non-Thermal Processing Market. This financial barrier disproportionately affects small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack the liquidity to invest in advanced preservation systems like High-Pressure Processing. Even for larger manufacturers, the high acquisition costs combined with the expense of retrofitting production lines to accommodate new equipment make the return on investment difficult to justify compared to traditional thermal methods. Consequently, this economic friction forces many companies to defer modernization, thereby slowing the overall adoption rate of these technologies despite their safety benefits.

The impact of these financial hurdles is quantifiable within the industry. According to the Institute of Food Technologists, in 2024, nearly 70% of food industry respondents identified cost as the most significant barrier to adopting new technologies and transforming their production capabilities. This data underscores that while the demand for higher quality food products exists, the practical reality of high operational and installation costs continues to severely restrict the market's growth potential. Without the ability to overcome these capital constraints, the shift away from conventional pasteurization remains gradual rather than transformative.

Key Market Trends

The Expansion of High-Pressure Processing (HPP) Tolling Service Networks is fundamentally altering the market structure by mitigating the barrier of high initial capital expenditure. Instead of purchasing expensive proprietary machinery, food manufacturers are increasingly outsourcing preservation to centralized tolling hubs, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to launch products with minimal upfront risk. This model facilitates rapid scalability and geographic reach for cold-chain logistics, effectively bypassing the financial friction that typically slows technology adoption. According to Universal Pure, November 2025, in the 'Universal Pure Expands HPP Capacity with New Hiperbaric 525i System at Pennsylvania Facility' press release, the company solidified this infrastructure by installing a fourth system at its Malvern facility, expanding its nationwide network to 23 machines across seven strategic locations to meet rising demand.

Simultaneously, the Surge in High-Pressure Processing Applications for Raw Pet Food Safety is creating a dedicated industrial vertical distinct from human food preservation. As pet owners increasingly transition to raw meat diets, manufacturers are utilizing non-thermal technologies to eliminate pathogens like Salmonella while preserving the bioavailability of essential nutrients that thermal pasteurization destroys. This specific application is driving significant volume growth and facility investment solely for animal nutrition products. According to Petfood Industry, July 2025, in the 'Raw pet food gains ground as consumers gain safety knowledge' article, Instinct Pet Food’s newly opened Center of Excellence utilizes this technology to support an estimated 26 to 28 million pounds of annual HPP capacity, underscoring the scale of this sector's expansion.

Segmental Insights

The Meat & Seafood segment stands as the fastest-expanding category in the Global Non-Thermal Processing Market, propelled by the critical need to ensure food safety without altering product quality. Manufacturers increasingly utilize non-thermal technologies to effectively neutralize dangerous pathogens, such as Salmonella and Listeria, while preserving the essential texture and nutrients often lost during conventional heat treatment. This growth is reinforced by compliance with rigorous standards from regulatory bodies like the USDA and FDA, which recognize these methods as valid pathogen reduction steps for raw and ready-to-eat protein products.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Non-Thermal Processing Market due to the robust food and beverage manufacturing sector in the United States and Canada. This dominance is primarily driven by increasing consumer preference for fresh, preservative-free products with extended shelf lives. Furthermore, stringent safety regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compel manufacturers to implement effective pathogen control methods like high-pressure processing. The combination of strong regulatory frameworks and the widespread presence of major food processors facilitates the rapid adoption of these technologies to ensure compliance and product quality.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, Universal Pure completed the acquisition of the High Pressure Processing (HPP) assets of Dora's Naturals, a specialized food and beverage company based in the United States. This transaction was executed to expand the company's processing capacity and service footprint in the Northeast region, reinforcing its position as a leading independent provider of HPP solutions. The Chief Executive Officer of Universal Pure remarked that the move aligned with their growth strategy to support food safety and shelf-life extension for manufacturers. The acquisition highlighted the ongoing consolidation and expansion of service networks within the non-thermal processing market.
• In November 2024, Lyras announced a strategic collaboration with Signal Hill Products to implement its proprietary "raslysation" technology for cider production. This non-thermal, UV-based process was adopted to replace traditional thermal pasteurization, aiming to reduce energy consumption by approximately 70% while preserving the cider's natural flavor profile. The Brew Master at Signal Hill Products noted that the transition not only enhanced sustainability efforts but also increased overall production capacity. This partnership marked a significant commercial application of non-thermal UV technology within the global alcoholic beverage sector, moving beyond dairy applications.
• In October 2024, Quintus Technologies introduced the QIF 600L, which was marketed as the industry’s largest High Pressure Processing (HPP) system, at PACK EXPO International. The new machine featured a 600-liter cycle capacity and a larger vessel diameter, specifically engineered to increase throughput and accommodate a higher volume of packages per cycle. The General Manager of Quintus Technologies stated that the system was developed to lower per-unit production costs while maximizing operational efficiency. This development underscored the company's commitment to scaling up non-thermal processing capabilities for industrial food and beverage manufacturers.
• In March 2024, Hiperbaric unveiled its new High Pressure Thermal Processing (HPTP) technology during the Anuga FoodTec trade fair in Cologne, Germany. This innovative system was designed to combine the microbial lethality of heat with the speed of high pressure, allowing for the creation of shelf-stable food products using significantly lower temperatures than conventional thermal methods. The company highlighted that this advancement preserved the nutritional properties and natural flavor of foods more effectively. This launch represented a strategic expansion of their non-thermal processing portfolio to address the global demand for high-quality, long-lasting food products.

Key Market Players

• Elea Technology Gmbh
• Dukane Corp.
• Nordion Inc.
• Hiperbaric S.A.
• CHIC Group
• Elea Technology
• Gray Star, Inc.
• Avure Technologies
• Chic Freshertech
• Pulsemaster

By Product	By Type	By Application	By Region
Meat & Seafood Fruits & Vegetables Beverages and Others	HPP PEF Ultrasonic Irradiation Cold Plasma and Others	Quality Assurance Microbial Inactivation Cutting Emulsification & Homogenization Cleaning and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Non-Thermal Processing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Non-Thermal Processing Market, By Product:

• Meat & Seafood
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Beverages and Others

• Non-Thermal Processing Market, By Type:

• HPP
• PEF
• Ultrasonic
• Irradiation
• Cold Plasma and Others

• Non-Thermal Processing Market, By Application:

• Quality Assurance
• Microbial Inactivation
• Cutting
• Emulsification & Homogenization
• Cleaning and Others

• Non-Thermal Processing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE