Shelf Stable Beverage Industry

Bottle Retort Solutions for Sterilizing Shelf-Stable Beverages

STOCK America delivers advanced solutions for the low-acid, shelf-stable beverage market, including bottle retorts for scalable operations. From ready-to-drink coffee and tea with dairy content to low-acid energy drinks and complex nutraceuticals, our retort systems ensure product safety, extended shelf life, and consistent quality.

Since 1975, STOCK has led the industry in retort technology, supporting beverage processors from concept to commercial success with reliable and efficient solutions.

RETORTABLE CONTAINER SELECTION

The Retort Container for your product is a critical selection for product presentation in the market. These specialty hermetically sealed containers are designed to survive in a retort with elevated temperatures and pressure.

For beverages categories the current typical retortable containers are:

Energy Drinks – Cylindrical Cans with pop-top lids using various diameters and heights

RTD Coffee and Tea – Glass Jars with threaded screw type caps typically between 9-14-ounce sizes

Nutraceutical Drinks – Plastic bottles with threaded screw type caps of various shapes for vitamin supplements and baby formula

BEVERAGE RETORTING

Most shelf-stable beverages require agitation during the retort process to prevent scorching or burning. For vertically oriented containers like glass jars or beverage cans, the water immersion process with end-over-end rotation is highly effective, ensuring efficient heat transfer from the container walls to the product. The STOCK Rotary Immersion Retort has been a proven solution for over 45 years, delivering consistent results for shelf-stable beverage production.

MACHINERY VERSATILITY FROM CONCEPT TO GROCERY SHELF

STOCK America partners with processors of all sizes, from start-ups to large CPG companies, to provide advanced shelf-stable beverage processing solutions. To accommodate a wide range of market needs, STOCK’s Water Immersion Agitating Retorts, including specialized bottle retorts, are available in multiple custom diameters and lengths. These options ensure economic and efficient processing based on line speed and container geometry, delivering optimal results for various production scales.

In addition to retort systems, STOCK offers comprehensive Material Handling Solutions to manage products from the f/seamer through to loading, processing, and unloading the retort. These systems seamlessly transition products to secondary packaging while ensuring food safety and compliance with FDA/USDA regulations. The modularity of STOCK’s Material Handling options allows processors to customize automation levels to fit their capital budgets, with the flexibility to upgrade to systems requiring just one operator for the entire processing area.

STOCK AMERICA TECHNICAL SUPPORT

In the shelf-stable beverage market, STOCK America leverages decades of technical expertise and a mature product line to guide companies from concept to production. Our in-house Pilot Plant Retorts, including batch and continuous bottle retort systems, enable product formulation and testing to ensure optimal results. Serving start-ups and large CPG companies alike, STOCK America provides tailored solutions and technical support to help establish efficient beverage lines with a justifiable return on investment.