Alamance Foods Launches AFI Labs for Food & Beverage Innovation

Top 500 chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining, but sectors like coffee, beverages and snacks and chicken thrived The NRN editorial department was not involved in the creation of this content. Alamance Foods, a leading developer and manufacturer of aerosol whipped toppings, cold foams, specialty beverages, and frozen treats, today announced the launch of AFI Labs, a dedicated research, development, and commercialization center designed to help foodservice operators, consumer packaged goods companies, retailers, convenience retailers, and restaurant brands bring innovative products to market faster.

AFI Labs combines deep scientific expertise, pilot-scale manufacturing capabilities, culinary innovation, and commercialization support into a single collaborative environment where customers can rapidly develop, validate, and scale new food and beverage solutions. “As consumer preferences evolve faster than ever, companies need innovation partners that can move from idea to commercialization with speed, flexibility, and technical confidence,” said Eric Nakata, Corporate Chef. “AFI Labs was created to help our customers shorten development timelines while leveraging Alamance Foods’ manufacturing expertise to deliver products ready for commercial success.” AFI Labs offers a customer-centric approach that supports every phase of product development—from early ideation through commercial production.

Rather than a traditional product development model, customers work alongside cross-functional experts in research and development, process engineering, commercialization, packaging, culinary development, and manufacturing. The collaborative model allows customers to rapidly evaluate concepts, optimize formulations, validate manufacturing processes, and confidently launch products that meet evolving consumer demands.

AFI Labs specializes in high-growth food and beverage categories including:

Drinkable yogurt

The facility supports customers developing products for foodservice, convenience retail, quick-service restaurants, consumer packaged goods, and private label programs. AFI Labs follows a structured innovation process designed to reduce development risk while accelerating commercialization:

Commercial scale-up and production support

By integrating commercialization planning early in development, AFI Labs helps customers transition seamlessly from prototype to manufacturing. The facility includes laboratory, culinary, and pilot plant resources designed to replicate real-world customer environments.

Small commercial bakery equipment

Modular plug-and-play kitchens that accommodate customer equipment and operational workflows

These capabilities enable customers to evaluate products under authentic operating conditions before commercial launch. AFI Labs provides a range of collaborative development services, including:

Long-term co-development partnerships

Each engagement is tailored to meet individual customer objectives, whether developing entirely new platforms or enhancing existing products.

As foodservice operators, beverage brands, retailers, and consumer packaged goods companies continue seeking differentiated products, AFI Labs provides the flexibility, technical expertise, and commercialization capabilities needed to accelerate innovation while reducing time to market. With direct access to Alamance Foods’ manufacturing expertise and commercialization resources, customers gain a strategic development partner capable of transforming promising concepts into scalable, market-ready products.