AFI Labs provides a unified, collaborative space where clients can quickly create, test, and expand new food and beverage offerings.
Our goal with AFI Labs is to help clients cut down development cycles while using Alamance Foods’ production know-how to bring products that are ready for market success.”— Eric Nakata, Corporate Chef at Alamance FoodsBURLINGTON, NC, UNITED STATES, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — BURLINGTON, N.C. — Alamance Foods, a top developer and manufacturer of aerosol whipped toppings, cold foams, specialty beverages, and frozen treats, today announces the opening of AFI Labs, a specialized research, development, and commercialization hub built to help foodservice operators, CPG companies, retailers, convenience stores, and restaurant chains get new products to market more quickly.
AFI Labs merges deep scientific knowledge, pilot‑scale production capabilities, culinary creativity, and commercialization assistance into one cooperative setting where clients can rapidly develop, validate, and scale new food and beverage solutions.
“With consumer tastes shifting faster than ever, companies need innovation partners that can move from concept to commercialization with speed, adaptability, and technical assurance,” said Eric Nakata, Corporate Chef. “AFI Labs was designed to help our clients shorten development timelines while tapping into Alamance Foods’ manufacturing expertise to deliver products that are ready for commercial success.”
A Partner‑Driven Innovation Hub
AFI Labs takes a customer‑focused approach that supports every stage of product creation—from initial brainstorming to full‑scale production. Instead of following a conventional product development model, clients work side by side with cross‑functional specialists in research and development, process engineering, commercialization, packaging, culinary development, and manufacturing.
This cooperative model enables clients to quickly assess concepts, fine‑tune formulations, confirm manufacturing processes, and confidently launch products that meet shifting consumer demands.
Faster Innovation Across Key Categories
AFI Labs concentrates on rapidly growing food and beverage segments, including:
— Dairy and dairy‑alternative aerosol whipped toppings
— Dairy and dairy‑alternative aerosol cold foams
— RTD beverage applications
— Freezer pops
— Drinkable yogurt
The facility serves clients developing products for foodservice, convenience retail, quick‑service restaurants, consumer packaged goods, and private label programs.
From Market Insights to Market Success
AFI Labs follows a structured innovation process designed to lower development risk while speeding up commercialization:
— Innovation and consumer trend research
— Concept development
— Rapid prototype formulation
— Validation and analytical testing
— Pilot‑scale manufacturing trials
— Commercial scale‑up and production support
By embedding commercialization planning early in the development cycle, AFI Labs helps clients move seamlessly from prototype to manufacturing.
Technical Know‑How Meets Real‑World Conditions
The facility includes laboratory, culinary, and pilot plant resources built to mimic real‑world customer environments.
Capabilities include:
— Bench‑scale product development
— Pilot‑scale processing equipment
— Product performance evaluation
— Manufacturing validation and scale‑up
— Sensory testing and competitive benchmarking
— Culinary‑inspired product applications
— Coffee, café, and beverage equipment for client‑specific execution
— Small commercial bakery equipment
— Modular plug‑and‑play kitchens that accommodate client equipment and operational workflows
These capabilities allow clients to evaluate products under authentic operating conditions before commercial launch.
Tailored Innovation Services
AFI Labs offers a variety of collaborative development services, including:
— Innovation workshops
— Consumer and market trend exploration
— Rapid prototyping
— Custom formula development
— Technical troubleshooting
— Product optimization
— Long‑term co‑development partnerships
Each engagement is customized to meet individual client goals, whether they are creating entirely new platforms or improving existing products.
Designed for Today’s Food and Beverage Landscape
As foodservice operators, beverage brands, retailers, and CPG companies continue to seek differentiated products, AFI Labs delivers the flexibility, technical expertise, and commercialization capabilities needed to accelerate innovation while cutting time to market.
With direct access to Alamance Foods’ manufacturing expertise and commercialization resources, clients gain a strategic development partner capable of turning promising concepts into scalable, market‑ready products.
For more details on AFI Labs or to book an innovation workshop, visit www.alamancefoods.com or reach out to the Alamance Foods Commercialization Team.
About Alamance Foods
Alamance Foods is a leading manufacturer and innovation partner serving the foodservice, convenience, retail, and consumer packaged goods industries. The company specializes in aerosol whipped toppings, dairy and dairy‑alternative cold foams, specialty beverage solutions, frozen treats, and custom food and beverage product development. Through AFI Labs, Alamance Foods partners with clients to accelerate innovation from concept development through commercialization and full‑scale production.
Marisa Viestenz
Alamance Foods
Marisa.Viestenz@alamancefoods.com
