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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 education, training, 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

three assorted soups

A recipe for success: Conestoga accelerates R&D time

Pusateri's Fine Foods collaborated with CFRIL and the SMART Centre to extend the shelf-life of their diverse line of soups and stews.
Oranges placed in a reusable produce bag

Shelf-life study for novel produce trays

With the goal of developing new produce trays, Bio-Origins partnered with the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL) and Conestoga's SMART Centre on an eight-month project.
A pair of hands with particles in between

Shelf-life extension of frozen keto bakery products

Sugar Daddies Bakery Inc., a keto-friendly bakery with locations in Cambridge and Hamilton, including a production facility within the Cambridge retail outlet, specializes in offering keto lemon and Nanaimo bars.

Our team

Nicole Detlor

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

Director, Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

Sujit Abraham headshot

Sujit Abraham 

Research associate

Carol Zweep headshot

Carol Zweep, M.Sc., CPP

Research lead, packaging

By the numbers (2022) 

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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