Xerox’s PARC Spins Out New Company Focused on Addressing Cold Supply Chain and Food Storage

PARC, a Xerox company, announced the spin out of EverCase, a new start-up incubated at PARC that aims to disrupt the global cold supply chain technology and food storage markets by extending the shelf-life of meats, seafood and produce.

Freezing is a critical part of the cold supply chain, but it has problems. Food contains water, and when water freezes it expands, rupturing cells – an effect that dramatically compromises food texture. Once a food item is thawed, fluids leach out, reducing the overall quality of the item. Traditional refrigeration can preserve that food quality, but at a cost to a food’s shelf life – leading to significant waste rates across the food distribution chain.

EverCase is a device that sits inside freezers and keeps food subzero without any ice crystals forming, allowing the food to retain its original quality and texture. EverCase works with freezer infrastructure, using pulsed electric and oscillating magnetic fields to keep food at a temperature below freezing without actually freezing the food. The technology is safe, chemical free and inexpensive to make.

“Freezing food can extend its life and reduce food waste, but once ice crystals form, the texture and flavor of the food are simply not the same,” said Chris Somogyi, Founder and CEO of EverCase. “EverCase’s technology can mitigate this issue, delivering food to consumers that has the same texture, flavor and quality as it had the day it came off the farm or out of the ocean.”

PARC identified the technology behind EverCase working with its inventor Dr. Soojin Jun, Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Dr. Jun also works with the university’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization which signed a license agreement with Evercase in 2022. The technology is the subject of 13 publications and 9 years of research.

Chris Somogyi was part of the team at PARC that incubated the technology working closely with Dr. Jun. “When I saw this technology and worked with the PARC team that incubated it, I realized how impactful it can be. We have a real opportunity with EverCase to improve food quality, reduce waste and generate new food experiences,” said Somogyi. “It’s time to disrupt and improve cold storage by stopping ice formation, so we get better quality to consumers, improve revenues, and most importantly, respect the effort and resources producers put into growing food in the first place.”

EverCase is now raising a series A round. More details can be found here.

About Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX)
For more than 100 years, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace experience. Harnessing our leadership position in office and production print technology, we’ve expanded into software and services to sustainably power today’s workforce. From the office to industrial environments, our differentiated business solutions and financial services are designed to make every day work better for clients — no matter where that work is being done. Today, Xerox scientists and engineers are continuing our legacy of innovation with disruptive technologies in digital transformation, augmented reality, robotic process automation, additive manufacturing, Industrial Internet of Things and cleantech. Learn more at xerox.com.

About PARC
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated (PARC), a Xerox company, is in the Business of Breakthroughs®. Practicing open innovation, it provides custom R&D services, technology, expertise, best practices and intellectual property to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, startups, and government agencies and partners. The company creates new business options, accelerates time to market, augments internal capabilities and reduces risk for clients. Since its inception, PARC has pioneered many technology platforms – from the Ethernet and laser printing to the GUI and ubiquitous computing – and has enabled the creation of many industries. Incorporated as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Xerox in 2002, PARC today continues the research that enables breakthroughs for businesses.