Beverage Product Development

Hops & Beer Analysis Services

Lab Testing

Product Development Projects

Food & Beverage Innovation Centre

The Food & Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC, formerly known as the Canadian Food & Wine Institute Innovation Centre) offers a full suite of services to support industry innovation and commercialization of new products and processes. From new recipe and concept development to shelf-life testing, prototyping, and small batch processing, the FBIC pairs industry partners with our highly qualified and experienced staff, faculty, recent graduates and students with the right expertise and equipment to meet their needs.

 

 

FBIC food scientists provide product development expertise for False Ox 

Food scientists at the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC) helped industry partner False Ox to extend its product line of shrubs and switchel beverages. The research team provided innovative solutions, such as natural flavours to enhance fruit juices, specialty ingredients and market-mindful flavour combinations. Funding support from Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). Read more of our success stories →

More Information & Support Services

Find us on Research Facilities Navigator

Find us on Research Facilities Navigator

We Specialize In:

  • FOOD & BEVERAGE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

    Access FBIC’s world-class culinary, beverage, cannabis edibles and food science expertise, facilities, and equipment to develop and improve Food & Beverage (F&B) products.

    • Develop new F&B products to expand existing revenue streams
    • Improve existing products to enhance competitive positioning
    • Enter new product categories with unique product offerings
    • Increase product quality and ease of operations
    • Assist with ingredient sourcing, co-packing sourcing, and packaging recommendations

  • FOOD SAFETY AND REGULATORY

    We provide guidance on food safety and regulatory standards as part of the F&B product development process.

    • Preliminary food safety risk assessments
    • Ensure products/processes are in compliance with food safety standards and regulations
    • Regulatory and Food Safety Gap Analysis
    • Theoretical label review including claims, ingredient statements and allergen declaration
  • Pilot Processing Plant

    BEVERAGE PROCESSING PILOT PLANT

    Access small batch beverage processing supports for research & development (R&D) and innovation purposes

    • Develop, reformulate, and scale-up new beverage products (alcoholic and non alcoholic) with small-batch processing for test markets within Canada
    • Compare different pasteurization/heat treatments
    • De-risk process and formulation decisions through pilot trials
    • Services include beverage formulation, mixing, carbonation, bottling/canning, and pasteurization
  • product-development

    SENSORY ANALYSIS AND CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE

    Engaging chefs and beverage specialists, trained panelists, and consumers in sensory testing to provide feedback for food and beverage products.

    • Sensory evaluation & consumer acceptance studies
    • Evaluate products through ‘Golden Palate’ tastings with our Chef Professors or Beverage Specialists
    • Carry out consumer testing to gauge market’s perception of product

  • BEVERAGE ANALYTICAL SERVICES

    FBIC offers a full suite of services to support industry innovation and commercialization of new products and processes. Beer, Cider, Mead, Kombucha, Distillery and Wine Analysis tests are now available at our research laboratories, located at our Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

    VIEW ALL BEVERAGE ANALYSIS SERVICES

     

  • HOPS ANALYSIS SERVICES

    The Hops Analysis Package includes alpha and beta acids, moisture content and Hop Storage Index (HSI), and is available for wet cones, dry cones and pelletized hops. OHGA members receive a 15% discount on all hops analysis services.

    VIEW HOPS ANALYSIS SERVICES

     

Work with us

Niagara College’s Research & Innovation provides real-world solutions for business, industry and the community through innovation activities.
For more information on these opportunities, contact Research & Innovation.