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.
Facilities and services
Inspire innovation
With access to culinary facilities, faculty and support staff, CFRIL can support your innovation strategy by providing a focused, on- or off-site innovation and ideation session to:
- Access our research and teaching facilities and equipment
- Collaborate with our chefs on product line extensions or new product ideas
- Test new product ideas using our equipment
Our packaging faculty can support your next packaging innovation with prototyping equipment and extensive laboratory analysis:
- Collaborate with faculty on new packaging ideas
- Prototype packaging concepts
Our partners can also access Bloom, Conestoga's full-service restaurant at the Waterloo campus, which boasts a state-of-the-art culinary skills lab.
Virtual tour
Take a virtual tour of our facility located at our Cambridge - Fountain Street campus.
CFRIL impact
Shelf-life extension of frozen keto bakery products
Packaging feasibility study
Real-time and accelerated shelf-life study
Our team
By the numbers (2022)
Contact us
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.
