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Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

As an applied food research lab, the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL) meets the needs of industry through research and technical expertise. Our advanced facilities are essential in providing solutions for small, medium, and large businesses in the food and culinary sector. Our focus is to work with partners to provide innovative solutions and support throughout the product development cycle, including formula development, shelf-life studies, packaging testing, and scale-up using our pilot plant equipment. 

In 2023 CFRIL was awarded the Minister's Award of Excellence and the Excellence in Research and Innovation award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 

Partner intake form

Facilities and services

Virtual tour

Take a virtual tour of our facility located at our Cambridge - Fountain Street campus.

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CFRIL impact

Crafty Ramen frozen mealkit

Perfecting quality: Crafty Ramen partners with CFRIL to optimize frozen noodle texture

Crafty Ramen is a Guelph-based restaurant, noodle shop, and market. Founded in 2017 by Jared and Miki Ferrall, Crafty Ramen has expanded from a single restaurant location in Guelph to multiple locations around the Kitchener-Waterloo area, an e-commerce division, meal kit partnerships, and a selection of their ramen in major grocery stores.  
Juli's Cookie Co. chocolate chip cookies

Packaging and shelf-life support for specialized cookies

Juli’s Cookie Co is a bakery company specializing in cookies for breastfeeding mothers. They sought CFRIL's support for packaging design and shelf-life extension to improve their current offerings and accommodate new products.
Brownies stacked on top of each other

Shelf-life analysis of vegan and gluten-free baked goods

CFRIL completed a detailed analysis to help Molly’s Market ensure the quality and safety of their baked goods as they expanded into new refrigerated storage channels. 

Our team

Carol Zweep headshot

Carol Zweep, M.Sc., CPP

Packaging researcher

Nicole Detlor

Nicole Detlor, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Director, Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

Tyler Williams

Tyler Williams

Packaging researcher

By the numbers (2023) 

Square feet of pilot plant space
In funded projects
Industry partners engaged over 5 years

Contact

See how the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab can help you access faculty expertise, student employees, and the college's innovative lab spaces and equipment.

850 Fountain Street South

Cambridge, Ontario N3H 0A8, Canada

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