While many restaurants focus solely on serving customers, Dispatch restaurant has taken innovation to the next level through its partnership with Niagara College's Research & Innovation department. The collaboration centers on developing "Mazagran," a unique canned drink that combines cold brewed coffee and lemonade flavors.
Dispatch approached the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC) at Niagara College over a year ago, seeking expertise to make their chef-inspired beverage shelf-stable and ready for wider distribution. The partnership aimed to transform the recipe into a pasteurized product that could be produced at scale with reduced costs.
Seeking to scale their creative concept, Dispatch partnered with FBIC to transform their chef-crafted beverage into a market-ready, pasteurized product.
The first batch of Mazagran was successfully designed, produced, and canned at NC's Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. FBIC provided critical services including beverage product development, prototyping, food safety procedures, quality testing, and production guidance. The launch of this innovative beverage has received coverage from multiple media outlets including The Hamilton Spectator and several Niagara region newspapers.
This project was made possible through funding support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). The FBIC received up to $200,000 to help small and medium-sized enterprises develop innovative beverage products. Typical projects range from $20,000 to $28,000, with businesses required to provide matching contributions.
For Dispatch, the partnership delivered multiple benefits. They gained access to FBIC's highly qualified staff, specialized equipment, and HACCP certification, which guarantees food safety standards. The collaboration helped de-risk the product launch process and supported market readiness for Mazagran.
The project also created valuable learning opportunities for Niagara College students. Students from various programs were hired to work alongside faculty and staff researchers, gaining real-world experience in solving industry challenges.
The Dispatch-Niagara College partnership demonstrates how educational institutions can support local businesses in product innovation. Through this collaboration, Dispatch isn't just serving great food—they're developing innovative beverages that could reach consumers far beyond their restaurant doors.
The Mazagran project represents a successful blend of culinary creativity, technical expertise, and educational opportunity.
