What Steuben Foods does

Steuben Foods is a privately held, family-owned (Schwartz family) contract food and beverage manufacturer headquartered in Elma, New York, founded in 1983 and operating from a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with an additional 80,000-square-foot ingredients plant completed in 2016. The company specializes in low-acid aseptic processing and packaging under which product and package are sterilized separately and combined in a sterile environment, enabling 6-12 months of ambient shelf life without preservatives. Steuben serves branded food and beverage customers across dairy (drinkable yogurt, flavored milk, creamers, sweetened condensed milk), plant-based beverages (almond, coconut, soy, horchata milks), protein and performance drinks, RTD coffee and tea, and adjacent foods (soups, sauces, gravies, ice cream bases).

The company's technical differentiation rests on two pillars: a patented aseptic bottling process and proprietary HydroReleased Ingredients (HRI) technology acquired in the 2010s from Dr. Cheryl Mitchell, which uses water to process whole grains, nuts, and seeds into nutrient-dense bases with minimal filler. HRI was the foundation for the company's own consumer sub-brand Elmhurst 1925 (launched 2017) and was opened to broader industry sales in 2021. Steuben packages products across multiple formats through long-standing partnerships with Tetra Pak (since 1991) and SIG Combibloc — including the XSlim fractional system producing 80mL-180mL cartons — alongside its own aseptic bottles containing up to 30% post-consumer recycled material and ESL cartons. The facility is FDA-registered, carries SQF Level III, Organic (QAI), Kosher, Non-GMO, and Halal certifications, and operates on hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls.

Steuben operates a B2B contract manufacturing go-to-market in which branded companies initiate contact through the website and are guided through a four-stage process: initial discussion, evaluation, pilot testing validation, and commercialization. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per project based on complexity, volume, and packaging requirements. Revenue is generated from manufacturing fees for processing partner formulations into finished packaged products, supplemented since 2017 by sub-brand revenue (Elmhurst 1925) and since 2021 by HRI ingredient sales to the broader industry. The company's R&D team — with over 100 years of combined experience in food science, flavor chemistry, and food engineering — operates an in-house pilot plant that provides free pilot services to contract partners as a relationship-building lever.

Name

Steuben Foods

Legal name

Steuben Foods, Incorporated

Website

https://steubenfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Steuben Foods is a privately held, family-owned contract manufacturer specializing in low-acid aseptic processing and packaging of dairy, plant-based beverages, protein drinks, and food products for branded food and beverage companies, with proprietary HydroReleased Ingredients technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aseptic Food and Beverage Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Protein Snacks, Bars & RTD Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese) (CRADACAB), Shelf-Stable Pantry Staples (Grains, Pasta, Rice, Beans, Canned Foods) (CRADAAAA)

Keywords

• Aseptic food manufacturing
• Contract beverage manufacturing
• Co-packing services
• Plant-based ingredients
• Dairy processing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Elma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing / Co-Packing Services: Steuben Foods generates revenue by manufacturing products for branded business partners under contract. The company takes products from concept through full-scale commercial production, offering comprehensive services including R&D, blending, processing, filling, and distribution. Partners include branded businesses in dairy and plant-based spaces. Revenue is derived from manufacturing fees for processing partner formulations into finished packaged products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Steuben Foods is a B2B contract manufacturer of low-acid aseptic food and beverage products. The company takes branded partner formulations through R&D, blending, aseptic processing, filling, packaging, warehousing, and distribution from its 750,000-square-foot Elma, NY facility. Core manufactured categories include plant-based beverages (almond, coconut, soy, horchata), dairy (drinkable yogurt, flavored milk, creamers), protein and performance drinks, RTD coffee and tea, soups, sauces, gravies, and ice cream bases, filled into SIG, Tetra Pak, aseptic bottle, and ESL carton formats.

Product overview

Steuben Foods operates as a contract food and beverage manufacturer specializing in low-acid aseptic processing and packaging. The company's core offerings span three interconnected areas: (1) Aseptic beverage manufacturing including plant-based products (almond, coconut, soy milks, horchata), dairy (drinkable yogurt, flavored milk, creamers), protein drinks, RTD coffee/tea, and smoothies; (2) Food products including soups, sauces, gravies, and ice cream bases; and (3) HydroReleased Ingredients (HRI), a proprietary patented technology for processing whole grains, nuts, and seeds into nutrient-dense bases for the food industry. Packaging capabilities include SIG Combibloc aseptic cartons (including XSlim fractional sizes), Tetra Pak aseptic cartons, proprietary aseptic bottles (with up to 30% post-consumer recycled materials), and ESL cartons. The company offers full-service contract manufacturing from initial discussion through commercialization, with in-house R&D, pilot plant facilities, and quality assurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elmhurst 1925: Premium brand of creamy and nutritious plant milks made with simple ingredients, launched in 2017 using HydroReleased Ingredients technology.
• HydroReleased Ingredients (HRI)

Products and services

• Contract Manufacturing Services Full-service B2B contract manufacturing of low-acid aseptic dairy, plant-based, protein, RTD coffee/tea, soup, sauce, and food products under partner brands. The service encompasses R&D, blending, aseptic processing, filling, packaging, warehousing, and global distribution from the Elma, NY facility.
• HydroReleased Ingredients (HRI) Proprietary patented ingredient technology that uses water to distill whole grains, nuts, and seeds into nutrient-dense plant-based food and beverage bases for sale to food and beverage brand manufacturers.
• SIG Combibloc XSlim Fractional Packaging Compact aseptic carton packaging in eight sizes from 80mL to 180mL developed in partnership with SIG Combibloc, targeting portable single-serve beverages and child nutritional products.
• Aseptic Bottle Packaging Proprietary patented aseptic bottling process with attractive sleeve designs for on-the-go aseptic beverages; HDPE bottles contain up to 30% post-consumer recycled materials.
• Tetra Pak Aseptic Cartons Recyclable ambient-stable aseptic paperboard cartons produced in partnership with Tetra Pak for extended-shelf-life beverages and food products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extended shelf life of 6-12 additional months compared to conventional hot-fill or retort techniques
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dr. Cheryl MitchellcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2010Acquired remarkable patented technology from Dr. Cheryl Mitchell for processing whole grains, nuts, and seeds into highly nutritious and clean formulations. This technology enabled Steuben to become a leader in the plant-based food and beverage space.
• Tetra PakcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1991Tetra Pak pioneered the concept of aseptic paperboard packaging. Steuben Foods has enjoyed a rich partnership with this world leader since 1991, which continues to thrive three decades later. Tetra Pak offers recyclable packaging formats for Steuben's aseptic products.
• SIG CombibloccoreTechnology or IntegrationSwitzerland's SIG has evolved from manufacturing railroad cars and precision weaponry to advanced food & beverage packaging equipment. Steuben Foods' flourishing partnership continues to bring innovation to the North American market, most recently fractional packaging with the XSlim system.
• Contract Manufacturing PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteuben Foods works with contract partners to create and refine formulations, taking products from concept to full-scale commercial production. R&D is considered a partnership-building function foundational to shared success. Steuben does not charge contract partners for work in the pilot plant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HP Hood: Privately held dairy processor with co-manufacturing and partner-brand beverage operations. Comparable to Steuben's aseptic dairy and creamer manufacturing for branded customers.
• Lactalis USA: U.S. subsidiary of global dairy giant Lactalis with a broad portfolio of dairy and plant-based manufacturing. Comparable to Steuben's dairy processing and co-manufacturing capabilities, with much greater scale and brand portfolio.
• Saputo: Global dairy manufacturer with significant U.S. operations across fluid milk, cultured products, and ingredients. Comparable to Steuben's dairy and beverage manufacturing footprint for branded customers.
• Hain Celestial Group: Diversified organic and plant-based food manufacturer with brands and private-label manufacturing. Comparable to Steuben's plant-based and dairy-alternative manufacturing capabilities, with a broader brand portfolio.

Direct peers

• TreeHouse Foods: Large public contract food manufacturer producing private-label and co-manufactured center-store and beverage products. Closest direct peer to Steuben's contract manufacturing model, with overlap in dairy, beverages, and shelf-stable categories.
• Schreiber Foods: Large private dairy company with substantial co-manufacturing and partner-brand operations. Comparable to Steuben as a privately held, customer-brand-focused dairy and beverage manufacturer with aseptic and ESL capabilities.
• Seneca Foods: Privately held food manufacturer producing canned, frozen, and aseptically packaged products for branded customers. Comparable to Steuben's contract manufacturing model and aseptic packaging capabilities for shelf-stable categories.
• SunOpta: Plant-based food and beverage company with both owned brands and ingredient/co-manufacturing operations. Highly comparable to Steuben's plant-based focus and use of proprietary processing technology for plant milks and ingredients.

Emerging players

• Califia Farms: Plant-based beverage brand with co-manufacturing relationships for almond, oat, and creamers. Comparable to Steuben's plant-milk manufacturing capabilities and the Elmhurst 1925 type of clean-label plant-based brand.
• Blue Diamond Growers: California almond cooperative with ingredient and branded plant-based beverage businesses. Comparable to Steuben's plant-milk manufacturing and ingredient capabilities, with deeper almond-specific expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/steubenfoodsinc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steuben Foods