More than 20 Canadian beverage companies are set to benefit from new funding to Niagara College aimed at helping small businesses bring new drinks to market.
The college’s Canadian Beverage Innovation Program, delivered through its Food & Beverage Innovation Centre and Business & Commercialization Innovation Centre, is receiving up to $172,000 in support from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.
The investment will support small and medium-sized enterprises with everything from product development and manufacturing to branding, marketing and commercialization planning, the college said in a news release.
“Only about five per cent of new food and beverage product ideas actually make it to full commercialization,” said Paula Reile, associate director of the Business & Commercialization Innovation Centre.
“That number reflects just how critical it is for entrepreneurs to have access to the right research, branding, and go-to-market strategy early on.”
The program helps companies validate product feasibility, overcome production and regulatory challenges, and scale for market launch.
It also offers hands-on learning opportunities for Niagara College students in culinary innovation, biotechnology, business strategy and marketing.
“This funding allows our applied research and development team to scale supports for beverage innovators across Canada,” said Lyndon Ashton, associate director of the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre.
“We’ve found that R&D is increasingly recognized and understood as important by the public and industry alike.”
Marc Nantel, the college’s vice-president of research, innovation and strategic enterprises, said the program not only helps small businesses but also provides real-world experience for students.
This support, he said, “empowers our team to help small businesses bring their ideas to life while also providing an invaluable applied learning environment for Niagara College students.”
The Food & Beverage Innovation Centre is located at the Marotta Family Innovation Complex at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The facility includes a CFIA and AGCO-licensed beverage pilot plant and Health Canada-approved labs for cannabis-infused product development.
Since launching, the innovation centre has supported hundreds of Canadian companies with services such as formulation, shelf-life testing, regulatory compliance, and sensory analysis.
The Business & Commercialization Innovation Centre complements the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre by helping entrepreneurs develop marketing strategies, pricing plans, product photography and branding — all supported by research and tailored for competitive markets.
Project intake for the Canadian Beverage Innovation Program is ongoing, with projects expected to continue through next March.
Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to visit niagaracollege.ca/research or contact business development manager David DiPietro at ddipietro@niagaracollege.ca.
