Universal Pure
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersVilla Rica, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Universal Pure does
Universal Pure, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a B2B food and beverage contract services company and the self-described largest provider of High Pressure Processing (HPP) services in North America. The company operates 23 HPP machines across seven U.S. facilities (Lincoln NE, Villa Rica GA, Malvern PA, Meriden CT, Mira Loma CA, Arlington TX, and a Delphos OH service point) controlling 1.1 million square feet of cold-chain infrastructure. Its core service applies isostatic pressure up to 87,000 psi / 600 MPa inside sealed vessels using cold, potable water to inactivate pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes), molds, and yeasts while preserving nutritional and sensory qualities and enabling clean-label, preservative-free formulations with shelf-life commonly extended 2x.
Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based HPP tolling fees, complemented by beverage co-packing (50M+ bottles/year rotary filling capacity), refrigerated and frozen cold storage, kitting and assembly, tempering, blast and static freezing, repackaging, labeling and pre-pricing, code dating, netting, and HPP validation testing — packaged as a one-roof cold-chain solution. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting food manufacturers, beverage producers, grocery/private-label retailers, food-service operators, pet food brands, and direct-to-consumer fresh-food brands. The company reports 110+ customers and has cumulatively processed more than 900 million pounds of food and beverage products, with documented customer outcomes including shelf-life extensions from 21 to 60 days for prepared proteins and revenue growth of $10M to $35M for one anchor food customer.
Founded in 2001 as Universal Cold Storage, the company entered HPP services in 2011, rebranded as Universal Pure in 2017, and has since executed a roll-up acquisition strategy: Stay Fresh Foods (2019, adding beverage co-packing), an HPP provider in Coppell, TX (2014), Hydrofresh HPP from Keller Logistics (2022), Texas Food Solutions (2023), and Dora's Naturals (2025). It is privately held by Aurora Capital Partners following the November 2022 take-private from Tilia Holdings. Leadership includes CEO Frank Jimenez (appointed July 2024) and CFO Trisha Rosado (appointed June 2025).
Universal Pure firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Universal Pure
- Legal name
- Universal Pure, LLC
- Website
- https://universalpure.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Universal Pure industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Processing Services
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Food Manufacturing (311), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing (311411)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Alcoholic Beverage Bottling/Canning & Packaging Operations (AFAFABAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- PET/HDPE Plastic Bottle Blowing, Filling & Capping (AFAFAJAB), Aseptic Packaging & Bottling (UHT, Sterile Filling) (AFAFAJAD), Refrigerated Meat & Seafood (Processed/Packaged) (CRADACAK)
Keywords
Where Universal Pure is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Villa Rica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Universal Pure business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- HPP Processing Services: Contract processing services for food and beverage manufacturers using High Pressure Processing technology. Customers pay for processing capacity and throughput.
- Beverage Co-Packing and Bottling: Commercial beverage bottling and co-packing services using high-volume rotary filling technology with capacity of 50 million+ bottles per year. Services include blending, filling, labeling, code-dating, HPP, case packing, and inventory management.
- Cold Storage and Value-Added Services: Refrigerated and frozen storage, kitting and assembly, tempering, blast freezing, code dating, pre-pricing, netting, and distribution services
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Universal Pure product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Universal Pure is a contract High Pressure Processing (HPP) service provider that applies cold potable water and extreme pressure (up to 87,000 psi / 600 MPa) to packaged food and beverage products to inactivate pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes while extending shelf life and enabling clean-label formulations. The company operates 23 HPP machines across seven U.S. facilities and delivers an integrated cold chain platform combining HPP with cold storage, kitting and assembly, beverage bottling and co-packing (50 million+ bottles per year capacity), tempering, blast and static freezing, code dating, labeling, pre-pricing, repackaging, and HPP validation testing for food and beverage manufacturers, retailers, food service operators, pet food brands, and direct-to-consumer fresh food brands.
Product overview
Universal Pure operates as a platform of integrated cold chain solutions centered on High Pressure Processing (HPP) services, the core non-thermal food safety technology. The platform comprises the primary HPP service alongside a suite of value-added modules including cold storage, kitting and assembly, beverage bottling and co-packing, tempering, blast and static freezing, repackaging, labeling, pre-pricing, code dating, netting, and HPP validation testing. This one-stop-shop approach allows food and beverage manufacturers to access comprehensive cold chain services under one roof, from pre-HPP preparation through post-HPP distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- High Pressure Processing (HPP) Services Core non-thermal food safety and preservation service using cold water and pressure up to 87,000 psi to inactivate foodborne pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes) and extend shelf life without heat or chemical preservatives, for food and beverage manufacturers and retailers.
- Cold Storage Refrigerated and frozen storage services with computer-managed inventory, bar code scanning, and 24/7 online visibility, available across the company's U.S. facilities for food and beverage customers.
- Kitting and Assembly Customized order picking and assembly services for efficient go-to-market supply chain processes, provided to food and beverage manufacturers.
- Beverage Bottling and Co-Packing Commercial beverage bottling and co-packing services using high-volume rotary filling technology with 50 million+ bottles per year capacity, including blending, filling, labeling, code-dating, HPP, case packing, and inventory management, for juice, smoothie, cold brew, tea, and functional beverage manufacturers.
- Tempering Air tempering and water defrosting services to safely thaw frozen products for further processing, offered to food and beverage customers.
- HPP Validation Testing Validation study support services helping customers optimize HPP cycle parameters for their specific product applications, with 18 in-house engineers and technicians supporting the work.
- Blast Freezing and Static Freezing Rapid blast freezing and static freezing services available at the Lincoln, NE facility to preserve product quality for food and beverage customers.
- Repackaging, Labeling, Pre-Pricing, Code Dating, and Netting Food repackaging, relabeling, pre-pricing, code dating, ink jetting, and netting services for product reformulation, brand changes, and streamlined shelf placement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shelf life extension of 2X or more without preservatives
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Universal Pure
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Universal Pure technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Universal Pure partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HiperbariccoreHiperbaric supplies HPP equipment including the 525i system. Universal Pure has installed multiple Hiperbaric machines as part of capacity expansion. Hiperbaric is a leading manufacturer of industrial HPP equipment.
- Stay Fresh FoodscoreUniversal Pure acquired Stay Fresh Foods, combining two HPP industry leaders. Stay Fresh Foods founded in 2012 by Amy Lawless and Joe Ragozzino with facilities in Meriden CT and Pennsauken NJ. Consolidated platform operates 15 HPP machines across six locations, serving over 110 customers.
- SofrescocoreSofresco opened new manufacturing facility on Universal Pure's Malvern campus. Partnership includes juice manufacturing and HPP processing in same location, reducing logistics costs and enabling 24-hour turnaround from press to HPP.
- Berry GlobalminorPartnership to create HPP and container packaging reference guide. Berry Global is a packaging manufacturer providing expertise on HPP-compatible packaging, labeling, and sealing best practices.
- Nature's VarietyminorPet food manufacturer partnership for cleaner-label raw pet foods. Joint presentation at Petfood Forum 2018 on cleaner label trends and HPP enablement.
- Cold Pressure CouncilminorIndustry organization for HPP standardization, best practices, and consumer awareness. Universal Pure is a member promoting the High Pressure Certified seal.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Universal Pure competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lineage Logistics: Lineage Logistics is one of the world's largest temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics providers. It competes with Universal Pure's cold storage and value-added distribution services for food and beverage customers, though it does not focus specifically on HPP processing.
- GEA Group: GEA Group is one of the largest suppliers of food processing equipment and solutions globally. It serves many of the same food and beverage manufacturers that Universal Pure serves, though its core business is equipment rather than contract HPP processing services.
- Sealed Air: Sealed Air is a major food packaging and processing company known for Cryovac brands. It addresses overlapping customer needs in food safety and shelf life extension, though its core focus is on packaging materials rather than HPP contract processing services like Universal Pure.
- Bühler Group: Bühler is a global leader in food processing technology and equipment for grain, protein, and consumer foods. It addresses adjacent customer segments but does not compete in HPP toll processing; rather, it is a potential equipment partner or complementary service provider.
- Tetra Pak: Tetra Pak is a global leader in food packaging and processing, particularly for beverages and dairy. Its customers overlap with Universal Pure's beverage manufacturing segment, and it offers aseptic processing as a competing preservation method, though not HPP specifically.
- Multivac: Multivac is a leading global manufacturer of packaging and processing equipment for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications. Its focus on equipment for tray-sealing and food packaging overlaps with Universal Pure's bottling and packaging operations, though Multivac does not offer HPP services.
- AmeriCold Logistics: AmeriCold is the largest publicly traded temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company in North America. It overlaps with Universal Pure in refrigerated storage and food logistics but does not specialize in HPP, making it a broad incumbent in the cold chain rather than a direct HPP competitor.
- JBT Corporation: JBT Corporation is a global leader in food processing technology and equipment, having acquired Avure Technologies (a major HPP equipment maker) in 2017. It overlaps with Universal Pure in food processing equipment and services but operates as a much broader industrial technology incumbent.
- United States Cold Storage: United States Cold Storage is one of the largest third-party cold storage operators in North America. It provides refrigerated warehousing and value-added services similar to Universal Pure's cold storage offerings, though without the HPP specialization.
Direct peers
- Hiperbaric: Hiperbaric is the leading global manufacturer of industrial HPP equipment and Universal Pure's primary equipment supplier. The two companies have a deeply intertwined relationship, with Hiperbaric machines powering Universal Pure's 23-unit fleet and joint customer pilots enabling broader HPP market development.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Universal Pure social profiles
Digital presenceUniversal Pure compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Universal Pure financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Universal Pure leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Universal Pure subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Universal Pure funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Universal Pure M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Universal Pure
What does Universal Pure do?
Universal Pure is a contract High Pressure Processing (HPP) service provider that applies cold potable water and extreme pressure (up to 87,000 psi / 600 MPa) to packaged food and beverage products to inactivate pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes while extending shelf life and enabling clean-label formulations. The company operates 23 HPP machines across seven U.S. facilities and delivers an integrated cold chain platform combining HPP with cold storage, kitting and assembly, beverage bottling and co-packing (50 million+ bottles per year capacity), tempering, blast and static freezing, code dating, labeling, pre-pricing, repackaging, and HPP validation testing for food and beverage manufacturers, retailers, food service operators, pet food brands, and direct-to-consumer fresh food brands.
Is Universal Pure a public or private company?
Universal Pure is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Universal Pure founded?
Universal Pure was founded in 2001. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Universal Pure based?
Universal Pure is headquartered in Villa Rica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Universal Pure make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. HPP Processing Services are the primary driver. The others are beverage Co-Packing and Bottling and cold Storage and Value-Added Services.
Who are Universal Pure's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lineage Logistics, GEA Group, Sealed Air, Bühler Group, Tetra Pak, Multivac, AmeriCold Logistics, JBT Corporation and United States Cold Storage. Hiperbaric is listed as a direct peer.
Does Universal Pure have an API?
No public API is recorded for Universal Pure.
What industry is Universal Pure in?
Universal Pure's product category is Food Processing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFABAO, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Bottling/Canning & Packaging Operations, with a secondary code of AFAFAJAB, PET/HDPE Plastic Bottle Blowing, Filling & Capping. Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2086.