Chestnut puree from Prima Maroni can be stored without freezing

The structure is not damaged either

With the process, which was developed with the support of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund by a significant enterprise in the European market, it is also possible to produce preserved chestnuts that can be transported and stored without refrigeration. The new chestnut processing technology was developed by the Budapest-based Prima Maroni Kft., which supplies both domestic and foreign markets, with the support of HUF 88.99 million from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

Without preservatives or freezing

With the new process, they can produce canned chestnuts that do not contain preservatives or stabilizers, thus can be used more widely than traditional chestnut puree, and retain their quality for two years at room temperature. Using the new canning technology, they can also produce a new kind of chestnut puree, which does not need to be stored in a freezer, because the product can be kept in a normal refrigerator at 5-10°C for six months.

Previously, the largest volume of quick-frozen chestnut puree was produced from chestnuts in Hungary, but the cost of production, transportation and storage is very high, as it requires -18 ̊C. With Prima Maroni’s new technology, this cost can be saved, which is particularly important due to the increased energy prices. In addition, the finished product is creamier, more plastic, can be shaped immediately, the intensity of the chestnut’s flavors is preserved better, and the structure of the food fibers in it is not damaged.

It does need to be frozen

The development pays off, because chestnuts are in demand abroad, in addition to the member states of the European Union, for example in the United States, Canada, Australia or Israel. Prima Maroni has already presented the products made with the new technology at several domestic events, as well as to foreign partners. Both innovations won the approval of the confectionary profession and retailers.

Prima Maroni is one of the dominant players in the European chestnut processing market, it is privately owned by Hungarians, and its founder has been involved in the production of chestnut products for more than thirty years.  The company has international food industry certificates and offers a large selection of chestnut products. Since there is no ready-to-purchase technology required for production due to the narrow market, the company mostly develops and holds patents for the equipment used for processing. Thanks to the current investment, the company was able to create two new research and development jobs.

Prima Maroni is the supplier of the largest domestic supermarket chains, and its products are also available in Canada and Australia, for example. The canned product can be purchased domestically in the company’s webshop, the chilled chestnut puree is also available in several domestic and multinational commercial chains and health food stores.

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