Cryovac marks a milestone in food preservation

This month marks a massive milestone for the global food industry as the Cryovac brand officially begins its 85th anniversary celebration.

Since its trademark was first filed in 1941, the brand has evolved from a pioneering scientific concept into the global gold standard for meat, poultry, and liquid food packaging.

The brand’s name — a portmanteau of “cryogenic vacuum” — originally referred to the revolutionary process of vacuum-sealing fresh food before using cold air to shrink the material. It was a breakthrough that fundamentally changed the logistics of the global food supply chain, making fresh proteins widely available to the masses for the first time.

For food processors and retailers, the Cryovac name has become synonymous with reliability and industrial performance. Over the last eight decades, the brand has achieved several industry-leading milestones:

• • Global infrastructure: the brand has installed more than 4,000 rotary vacuum chamber systems worldwide, a testament to its dominance in high-volume processing environments.

  • Integrated solutions: the current portfolio has expanded far beyond the original shrink bag to include vacuum skin packaging (VSP), high-performance rollstock films, and vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) systems.

  • Specialised expertise: a key differentiator for the brand is its technical service team, which boasts an impressive average tenure of 11 years working specifically on Cryovac equipment.

While the anniversary honours the past, Sealed Air (SEE) is using the occasion to look forward. President and CEO Dustin Semach emphasised that the future of the brand remains centred on the “triple threat” of materials, equipment, and service. As the industry faces new pressures regarding shelf-life extension and operational efficiency, the brand continues to pioneer technologies that reshape how processors and foodservice operators manage their inventory and waste.

The yearlong celebration officially kicks off at the 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia, from January 27–29. Industry professionals are invited to visit Booth C34147 to explore the latest advancements in Cryovac technology and celebrate 85 years of packaging excellence.