Hiperbaric – Technical team
Pet owners are opting for a more natural and safer diet, driving the growth of high-pressure processing technology:
- The trend towards treating pets as family members is driving up demand for fresh, natural, safe and minimally processed pet food
- The global pet snack market is set to reach a value of $145,030 million by 2035, with an annual growth rate of 11.5 per cent
- High-pressure technology ensures the microbiological safety of fresh and raw pet food without altering its nutritional properties or resorting to artificial preservatives
Pets are no longer simply companion animals; they have become full members of the family. As a result, owners are becoming increasingly discerning about their pets’ diets and seek the same qualities for their dogs and cats that they value in their own diets: natural ingredients, fresh products, transparent labelling, high nutritional value and the highest standards of food safety.
This trend, known as ‘pet humanisation’, is driving a profound transformation of the pet food market and fuelling growth in segments such as fresh chilled diets, raw foods and functional recipes designed to improve animals’ quality of life and wellbeing.
Behind this evolution lies an increasingly evident shift in mindset. Consumers are no longer simply seeking to feed their pets, but to provide them with nutrition of a quality comparable to that which they choose for themselves. Concerns about the origin of ingredients, the level of food processing and the absence of artificial additives have become a decisive factor when choosing a brand or a diet.
The scale of this trend is reflected in the forecasts for the global pet snack market. According to a recent study by Precedence Research, this segment will reach a value of 145,030 million dollars by 2035, compared with the 50,840 million forecast for 2025, representing an annual growth rate of 11.5 per cent. The report identifies the ‘humanisation’ of pets as one of the main drivers of this trend, fuelling demand for premium products, natural ingredients and greater transparency in labelling.
High-pressure technology equipment at Steve’s Real Food in the US
Technology to meet new consumer demand
The growing popularity of fresh foods and raw diets, however, poses a significant challenge for the industry: ensuring the microbiological safety of these products without altering their nutritional properties or resorting to artificial preservatives.
In this context, High-Pressure Processing (HPP) technology has established itself as one of the most effective solutions for meeting new consumer expectations. By applying water at very high pressure, it eliminates potentially pathogenic microorganisms without the need for heat, thereby preserving the nutritional and organoleptic characteristics of the ingredients.
In this way, manufacturers can offer fresh products and raw diets that meet high food safety standards, whilst maintaining the quality and naturalness demanded by pet owners.
“More and more pet owners want the same quality of food for their pets as they seek for themselves. The growth in fresh, natural and minimally processed diets reflects a new approach to animal care, where nutrition and safety are priorities. For the industry, this presents the challenge of guaranteeing safe products without compromising on the quality of the ingredients, and technologies such as HPP are enabling us to meet that demand,” explains Andrés Hernando, CEO of Hiperbaric.
Hiperbaric high-pressure equipment for processing pet food at Instinct Raw Pet Food
Innovation at the service of a changing industry
As a world leader in HPP technology, Hiperbaric has been driving innovation in the food sector for over two decades and supporting companies worldwide in the transformation of their production processes. The growing adoption of this technology in the pet food industry confirms the potential of a category that continues to gain ground within the global pet food market.
In the United States, where demand for fresh and natural products continues to grow, the company recently reached the milestone of 400 HPP units worldwide with the installation of a Hiperbaric 525 model specifically designed for pet food production, reflecting the consolidation of this technology in one of the industry’s most dynamic segments.
But Hiperbaric’s commitment to innovation goes beyond the manufacture of equipment. The company maintains an intensive research and development programme aimed at expanding the applications of high-pressure technologies and responding to the emerging challenges of sectors that are increasingly demanding in terms of quality, safety and sustainability.
Steve’s Real Food and HPP pet food
About Hiperbaric
Hiperbaric is a Burgos-based company which, since 1999, has been dedicated to the design, manufacture and marketing of high-pressure industrial technology and equipment. For two decades, it has been a supplier of machinery for High-Pressure Processing (HPP) applied to the food sector. In 2019, as a result of an R&D project, it launched a new line of business focused on the design and development of industrial equipment for Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). In 2021, it launched another innovative line of business: very high-pressure hydrogen (H₂) compression technology, powered by renewable energy, to play its part in the challenge of sustainable mobility and the decarbonisation of industry. In 2024, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary.
