European Freeze Dry

What European Freeze Dry does

European Freeze Dry is a Denmark-headquartered, privately held freeze-drying food manufacturer founded in 1964, operating four purpose-built production facilities (three in Denmark and one in Preston, United Kingdom) with 51–100 employees. The company applies lyophilization technology — flash-freezing fresh or cooked food and sublimating ice under vacuum at temperatures as low as -50°C to remove more than 90% of moisture — to produce shelf-stable ingredients and meals that rehydrate while retaining original flavor, aroma, color, and nutritional content. Denmark operations specialize in culture and probiotic freeze drying for nutraceutical customers with high-hygiene manufacturing standards, while the UK facility specializes in in-house cooking and freeze-drying of complete meals.

The company operates across five revenue streams: (1) B2B sale of bulk freeze-dried food ingredients (meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, vegetables, pulses, fruit) to food manufacturers and caterers; (2) commission drying services spanning lab-scale testing, protocol development, and full production runs for cultures, probiotics, enzymes, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and bulk food ingredients; (3) private label meal manufacturing for outdoor and prepared-meal brands; (4) consumer-branded meal sales through Summit To Eat (outdoor adventure) and Fuel Your Prep (emergency preparedness) sub-brands via retail distribution in at least eight European countries and direct e-commerce; and (5) freeze-dried pet treats. The UK facility holds BRC Food Safety certification (valid until May 2026) and the Denmark facility holds FSSC 22000 certification (valid until May 2027), supporting access to major retailers and regulated nutraceutical buyers.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company pursues a hybrid B2B/B2C go-to-market motion combining direct enterprise sales for ingredients and commission services, OEM/private label partnerships, and consumer distribution through specialty outdoor and prepper retailers alongside DTC e-commerce. No funding rounds, acquisitions, leadership changes, or AI/ML capabilities are documented in the available sources, consistent with a privately-held, founder-era industrial food manufacturer prioritizing operational depth over capital-markets activity.

Name

European Freeze Dry

Legal name

European Freeze Dry

Website

https://europeanfreezedry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

European Freeze Dry is a Denmark-based, privately held freeze-drying food manufacturer founded in 1964, operating four facilities across Denmark and the UK to produce B2B food ingredients, commission drying services, private label meals, branded outdoor and emergency preparedness meals, and pet treats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freeze-Dried Food Manufacturing

NAICS

Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141), Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Prepared Foods & Meals Manufacturing (AFAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA), Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing (AFAKACAG), Frozen & Raw Pet Food (incl. freeze-dried) (CRADAFAD)

Keywords

• Freeze dried food
• Food ingredients
• Commission drying
• Private label meals
• Outdoor adventure food

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirke-hyllinge

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Ingredients B2B Sales: Sale of freeze-dried food ingredients (meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, vegetables, pulses, fruit) to food manufacturers, caterers, and food production operations. Products available as whole, sliced, diced, powdered, or specialized formats (grated, cubes, batons, caramelised). Provides consistent, shelf-stable ingredients that can be stored easily and rapidly rehydrated.
2. Commission Drying Services: Commission drying services offering over 50 years of freeze-drying experience to external customers. Services include lab-scale testing, protocol development, and full production runs. Partners work with company to develop optimal freeze drying protocols for viability retention and quality. Applications include cultures, probiotics, enzymes, bulk food ingredients, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.
3. Private Label Manufacturing: Manufacturing of freeze-dried prepared meals under private label arrangements. Company collaborates with customers on nutritional profiles, flavour profiles, portion sizes, packing formats and price points while ensuring quality in taste, texture and appearance. Targets outdoor/adventure food brands and prepared meal companies seeking freeze-dried product capabilities.
4. Branded Meal Products: Sale of branded freeze-dried prepared meals through Summit To Eat (outdoor adventure food) and Fuel Your Prep (emergency preparedness) brands. Products include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts sold in pouches and tins through retail partners and direct-to-consumer channels.
5. Pet Treats: Sale of freeze-dried pet treats made from high-quality raw materials (fish, meat, chicken). Products preserve natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes from raw materials. Packaged in customized sizes as ready-packed animal products.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Core offering

European Freeze Dry manufactures freeze-dried food products and provides freeze-drying (lyophilization) services from four facilities (three in Denmark and one in the UK). It sells bulk freeze-dried food ingredients (meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, vegetables, pulses, fruit) to food manufacturers, offers commission drying services for third-party products such as cultures, probiotics, enzymes, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, produces private-label freeze-dried meals, and retails branded consumer meals under the Summit To Eat and Fuel Your Prep sub-brands alongside freeze-dried pet treats.

Product overview

European Freeze Dry operates as a freeze-dried food manufacturer offering a portfolio of products and services. The core offerings include bulk freeze-dried food ingredients (meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, vegetables, pulses, and fruit) sold to food manufacturers and caterers, and commission drying services for third-party products including cultures, probiotics, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. The company also manufactures prepared meals under two sub-brands: Summit To Eat (freeze-dried adventure meals for outdoor enthusiasts) and Fuel Your Prep (freeze-dried survival meals for emergency preparedness), both sold through various retail channels. Additionally, they offer private label meal manufacturing and freeze-dried pet treats. Founded in 1964 with three factories in Denmark and the UK, the company holds BRC and FSSC 22000 food safety certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summit To Eat: Freeze-dried adventure food brand for outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, and sailing. Products include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options that can be prepared by adding boiling water.
• Fuel Your Prep

Products and services

• Freeze Dried Food Ingredients Bulk freeze-dried food ingredients including meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, vegetables, pulses, and fruit, supplied to food manufacturers, food production operations, and caterers for use in their own production processes. Available in formats such as whole, sliced, diced, powdered, grated, cubes, batons, and caramelised.
• Commission Drying Services Custom freeze-drying contract manufacturing services for third-party products, including cultures, probiotics, enzymes, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and bulk food ingredients. Includes lab-scale testing, protocol development, and full production runs.
• Summit To Eat Freeze-dried adventure meals for outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, and sailing. Available in breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options, with high calorie content and easy preparation by adding boiling water (ready in 8-10 minutes).
• Fuel Your Prep Freeze-dried survival and emergency preparedness meals with long shelf life for crisis storage, available in pouches and tins with various portion sizes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Private Label Meals Custom freeze-dried meal manufacturing under customer brand names, with customization of nutritional profiles, flavor profiles, portion sizes, and packing formats.
• Pet Treats Freeze-dried pet treats made from fish, meat, and chicken, preserving natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, available in customized pack sizes as ready-packed animal products.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 90% of food moisture removed through freeze drying process, enabling long shelf life at ambient temperature
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mountain House: Premium outdoor freeze-dried meal brand owned by Oregon Freeze Dry, the largest US-based freeze-dried food manufacturer. Directly comparable to Summit To Eat for outdoor recreationists seeking lightweight, just-add-water meals.
• Backpacker's Pantry: US-based outdoor adventure food brand specializing in freeze-dried and dehydrated meals for backpackers, campers, and climbers. Comparable to Summit To Eat in product format, customer segment, and distribution through outdoor specialty retailers.
• Peak Refuel: Premium outdoor freeze-dried meal brand using real meat and high protein content. Direct competitor in the outdoor recreationist segment with similar pouched meal format and just-add-water preparation.
• Wise Company: US-based emergency preparedness and long-term food storage company offering freeze-dried and dehydrated meals. Directly comparable to Fuel Your Prep for the survivalist/prepper customer segment.
• Augason Farms: Long-shelf-life emergency food storage brand with freeze-dried meals and ingredients. Comparable to European Freeze Dry's emergency preparedness portfolio (Fuel Your Prep) and freeze-dried ingredient offering.
• AlpineAire Foods: US freeze-dried outdoor meal brand serving backpackers, hunters, and emergency preparedness customers. Direct competitor in the freeze-dried pouch meal category with overlapping customer base.
• Van Drunen Farms: US-based freeze-dried fruit, vegetable, and ingredient manufacturer supplying B2B customers in food, beverage, and nutraceutical markets. Closely comparable to European Freeze Dry's freeze-dried food ingredient business.
• Chaucer Foods: UK-based freeze-dried ingredient manufacturer specializing in fruits, vegetables, and grains for B2B food manufacturers. Closely comparable to European Freeze Dry's UK and Denmark ingredient operations in geography, product format, and customer base.
• Primal Pet Foods: US-based manufacturer of freeze-dried raw pet food and treats. Comparable to European Freeze Dry's pet treats product line in freeze-drying methodology, raw-meat ingredient base, and premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Freeze Dry: Parent company of Mountain House and the largest US freeze-drying contract manufacturer. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering both branded consumer products (via Mountain House) and contract drying services similar to European Freeze Dry's commission drying business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/summittoeat
• Facebookfacebook.com/summit2eat

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 European Freeze Dry