Food Innovation Happens Here

Whether you are U.S.-based or international, in the research phase, the product development stage or ready to commercialize and go-to-market – Rutgers Food Innovation Center (FIC) works hand-in-hand with food and beverage companies to accelerate their businesses and establish a presence in New Jersey.

The FIC offers specialized training and services (food safety, business training, and a food acceleration program) and a place where entrepreneurs and researchers work together to develop and launch high-concept food products. The center is the only food product manufacturing and shared-use food facility in the world that acts as an official “soft landing” site for U.S. and international companies, providing technical mentoring, consumer research, prototype development, product packaging, and other support for entrepreneurs seeking to break into North American markets. The vast array of training, mentoring, and product manufacturing services at FIC are available to any food and beverage company in the U.S. or abroad that desires an optimized product launch, high-quality consumer research, and professional development support.

One former noteworthy client is Impossible Foods – creators of the industry-disrupting Impossible Burger. Another, more locally-known client of the Food Innovation Center is Vista Hermosa – a tortilla company born in the Tacombi Taqueria in the Empire State Building. In 2016, they were approached to sell their tortillas in one Brooklyn Whole Foods location. From there, they grew to selling in all 40 Whole Foods in the Tri-State area. By 2018 they reached max capacity and reached out to the Food Innovation Center who found them a new location in Middlesex County to produce and distribute their tortillas, as well as assisted them with new product R&D. Since then, they have expanded their wholesale footprint and seen year-over-year growth of around 65%.

Innovation stems from collaboration. Here, you are in good company. More than 190 global food companies are headquartered in the state of New Jersey. And three of the world’s top fragrance companies have locations in Middlesex County, including Firmenich Inc. – the world’s largest privately owned flavor and fragrance company.

In the famed Research Corridor also known as Einstein’s Alley, entrepreneurs from all over the world come to New Jersey to take advantage of the innovative environment unique to in Middlesex County. It’s here that cutting-edge concepts in food cultivation and preparation are designed and brought to market, driving both the local economy and going on to make a global impact.

Part of that success is due to Middlesex County’s distribution network. And that was one of the reasons GongCook, one of America’s first state-of-the-art, automated food production companies, selected Middlesex County for its 80,000 square foot production facility. “We chose Middlesex County because of its convenient location, tax discount, its clean and beautiful business parks, and local workforce,” said Stephen Ng of GongCook.

Middlesex County is home to the internationally-recognized and strategically located, NJ Turnpike Exit 8A – the warehouse and distribution hub of the Northeast, granting quick, seamless access to tens of millions of consumers. When it comes to supply chain, distribution and logistics infrastructure – this area is unmatched and offers the highest competitive advantage.

The Rutgers Center for Agricultural Food Ecosystems (RUCAFE) is a leader in agricultural innovation and food sustainability. Some of their breakthrough work includes the use of science and technology to improve agricultural nutrition and yield.

As an integral part of scientific study and research at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) is where innovators test (and taste!) new ideas in agriculture, applying scientific principles and methodology to food cultivation and consumption. Using NJAES resources and novel cultivation methods, food researchers produced the renowned Rutgers Scarlet strawberry, alongside others in Rutgers’ series of innovative produce including the Crimson Queen cranberry and Rutgers Scarlet dogwood.

Undoubtedly, there is a tremendous amount of top talent entering the workforce from Rutgers University, Middlesex College, and neighboring Princeton University. But in addition to higher education, Middlesex County boasts the nation’s leading vocational-technical schools that work in partnership with local businesses to develop and train employees. The Middlesex County Office of Career Opportunity also offers certifications and job training that span a wide variety of skillsets and career opportunities.

Middlesex County’s high concentration of flavor, food and fragrance companies combined with unparalleled support from County government, a highly educated workforce, a renowned research university, and the nation’s largest concentration of industrial workspace and warehousing, has created the perfect ecosystem for businesses of all sizes to grow and thrive.