ALTA - HPP services

In 2013, a food-safety incident changed the landscape of Chile’s packaged food market, driving stricter regulations. As expectations shifted, manufacturers needed a solution that could enhance food safety and extend shelf life without compromising quality. High-pressure processing (HPP) emerged as the solution, yet the high cost kept it largely out of reach for small and mid-sized enterprises (SME).

ALTA - HPP services is changing that status quo.

Founded in 2017 in Santiago, ALTA - HPP services is Chile’s first facility to introduce an open-access tolling model. The approach makes the technology available to producers of every size, from established brands to fast-growing SMEs.

Its team studied established HPP operations across the U.S. and Europe to build this model, working closely with universities and organizing nationwide seminars.

“Our mission is to give manufacturers the ability to strengthen product safety and extend freshness through HPP,” says Arturo Costabal Claro, director.

Using non-thermal food preservation technology, it applies uniform hydrostatic pressure to sealed products for a defined period of time. Compared to conventional pasteurization, HPP achieves food safety through pressure alone. This mechanism eliminates pathogens like Listeria, E. coli and Salmonella and extends refrigerated shelf life up to 60-fold, depending on the product and formulation.

HPP effectiveness depends on multiple parameters, making real-world evaluation essential before full-scale adoption. ALTA - HPP services’ client engagement model reflects this reality. Rather than forcing clients to commit to the technology, it first provides a demonstration. Through this complimentary trial, manufacturers are educated on how HPP will interact with their product.

The evaluation includes packaging, labels, inks and other materials, as the extreme pressure can affect each component differently. By testing these elements upfront, it ensures integrity, legibility and nutritional stability are uncompromised. This careful, systematic approach guarantees consistent results and provides clients with confidence in the safety, quality and shelf life of their products.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of its methodology. Each food item receives a customized process designed for its formulation and unique characteristics. This ensures every proprietary recipe remains fully protected. Once the process is finalized, clients can schedule treatments multiple times per week, with a fast turnaround that often allows products to return to stores and warehouses the same day or the next.

ALTA - HPP services’ tailored approach has enabled long-term relationships with manufacturers across the sector. A prime example is its collaboration with Agrosuper, a leading charcuterie producer in Chile. The client now accounts for approximately 60 percent of the company’s processing capacity, with operations running on a double shift to meet sustained demand. Plans are also in motion to install a second processing unit to support the client’s growing production volumes and throughput requirements, ensuring efficiency and rapid scaling.

Operating in regulated food environments requires adherence to globally recognized quality frameworks. ALTA - HPP services works within robust quality and safety systems that govern every stage of the process. Certified under Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, it ensures production practices consistently safeguard the integrity of every process it delivers.

It also holds International Food Standard accreditation, one of the most rigorous benchmarks for quality and safety worldwide. This supports the conduct of controlled processing, research and product development under precise protocols for pressure, temperature and time.

Chile’s vast coastline and global leadership in seafood exports have made the ocean the next frontier for ALTA - HPP services. A full-scale venture into seafood operations requires dedicated equipment and a separate operational setup. The company is already examining key technical considerations, with early exploration focusing on premium species like salmon. It aims to refine the process, preventing color changes, ensuring the fish retains its natural appearance and premium quality.

ALTA - HPP services is redefining what’s possible in food safety. By making HPP accessible and future-focused, it’s setting the pace for Chile’s next era of high-quality, high-performance packaged foods.