Freeze-dried Pet Food
Freeze-dried pet food is fast becoming the gold standard for pet owners looking for healthy, convenient and shelf stable options without compromise. So-called ‘pet parents’ are becoming more ingredient-conscious, driving demand for minimally processed options, and here freeze drying offers a number of advantages.
Reshaping the future of pet food freeze drying
Freeze drying is reshaping the future of premium pet food by offering the ability to deliver safe, nutritious, high-value products without the need for preservatives or heat treatment. To enable you to appeal to both pet owners and retailers, GEA brings together proven, high quality solutions, deep industry knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of customer needs - empowering you to meet the rising demand for minimally processed nutrition at the lowest possible total cost of ownership. Whether you’re creating a new line or scaling up production, we’ll work with you to design a solution that delivers consistency, safety and quality with every batch.
Raw meat
High-protein, nutrient-rich raw meats - such as beef, chicken and turkey - retain their natural integrity and appeal, supporting the raw food movement with added convenience and safety.
Kibbles
Balanced, freeze-dried kibble combines meat, grains and vegetables for an all-in-one meal solution that’s easy to store, transport and portion.
Treats
From biscuits to protein bites, freeze-dried treats maintain their taste and texture while offering extended shelf life and easy portability.
Flexibility that delivers in pet food manufacturing
Freeze drying is ideal for a wide range of pet foods and treats, from high-meat raw products like chicken, beef and turkey - whether natural, minced or formed - to kibble blends containing 5-15% meat alongside vegetables, grains and essential nutrients. It’s equally effective for snacks like biscuits and mixers, as well as high-protein treats such as bars. This flexibility allows manufacturers to deliver nutritious, shelf-stable and convenient products that meet the expectations of today’s pet owners.
The popularity of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) continues to rise, and pet owners are drawn to its reported benefits, such as improved digestion, better dental health, shinier coats and fewer allergies. Raw foods, however, can be messy, inconvenient and difficult to store. Freeze drying solves these challenges. The process retains the raw nutritional value of ingredients while improving shelf life and ease of handling. While the product remains raw, it is lightweight, portable and easy to rehydrate - which is perfect for time-poor owners with busy lifestyles.Why freeze drying?
Freeze-dried pet food delivers wide-ranging benefits:
- Enables clean-label formulations with no preservatives
- Long shelf life without refrigeration
- Lightweight and easy to store, ship and display
- Consistent product quality with minimal nutrient loss
- Supports premium product positioning and higher margins
- Easier to handle and package compared to frozen raw food
Want to know more? Get in touch with our experts today
How freeze drying of pet food works
Want to see the science behind freeze drying in action? Watch our video to explore how moisture is removed under vacuum, allowing raw pet food to retain nutrients, flavor and shelf life without cooking or additives.
Freeze drying solutions tailored for pet food
From pilot projects to full-scale production, GEA offers a portfolio of freeze drying systems tailored to meet your product and capacity requirements. With process expertise, advanced automation and hygienic design, we help you go to market with confidence.
RAY® Pilot Plant
A compact and flexible system ideal for product development, testing and small-scale production. Perfect for innovation and recipe refinement.
RAY® Freeze Dryer
Reliable batch technology for consistent, high-throughput performance. Designed for versatility and uniform results across trays.
RAY® Plus Freeze Dryer
Our most advanced industrial system, combining energy efficiency, high yield and automation. Engineered for premium pet food at scale.
Test Center
Partner with our experts at the GEA Test Center to simulate processes, validate formulations and de-risk full-scale investments.
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GEA RAY® rental freeze dryers
We offer rental pilot equipment for on-site development, with expert engineers ensuring seamless startup and staff training.
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Products & Technologies
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Dosing & Feeding
GEA supplies a market-leading range of powder handling, feeding and dosing solutions. Our volumetric and gravimetric powder feeding systems guarantee highly accurate processing in critical applications such as minor/major ingredient preparation, pre-mixing, recipe handling, blending and packing.
Freeze Dryers
Whether it is for food and beverage or functional ingredients GEA’s expertise in freeze drying plants is unrivalled. Building on decades of experience, we supply freeze drying plants that meet the individual industries’ specific regulations, standards and requirements.
GEA Scan-Vibro Sifters
GEA manufactures a wide range of vibrating sifters that have been designed for use in the food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, animal feed and pet food industries.
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