Loyalist College research partners with snack food icon Hawkins Cheezies

Belleville, ON, Jan. 25, 2024 – A telltale orange glow was seen in the labs at Loyalist College, signalling the beginning of a unique research partnership between Loyalist College’s Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis and local snack food icon W.T. Hawkins.

Produced in Belleville, ON, since 1956, Hawkins Cheezies are snack aisle staples across North America. When pandemic-era supply chain issues prompted Hawkins to start pursuing a new packaging supplier, the iconic Canadian company tapped researchers from Loyalist’s Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis to investigate product stability and microbial testing as the company explores new packaging options.

“Over 60 years ago, W.T. Hawkins chose our region as their home base for producing and distributing their well-known cheezies,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “Today, Loyalist College is immensely proud to launch a partnership with Hawkins to provide them with the advanced technology and expertise they need to continue delivering high-quality snacks for decades. This collaboration exemplifies Loyalist’s role in enabling local industries to gain competitiveness and efficiency by offering them the necessary talent, technology, and resources to modernize and future-proof their products.”

The project, funded by Loyalist through its NSERC Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTP) grant, will begin by setting a scientific baseline for the ideal cheezie characteristics. Researchers are collecting data on colour, appearance and hardness, establishing microbial types, genomic signatures and water activity – and tracking these characteristics as they change over time. The data will provide the backbone for future projects between Hawkins and Loyalist to drive product development and refine manufacturing processes.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Loyalist College in our journey towards Continuous Improvement Projects and product quality,” adds A.J. (Tony) McGarvey, General Manager & CFO for W.T. Hawkins Inc. “This is an incredible opportunity for W.T. Hawkins Inc. to utilize the state-of-the-art technologies and innovative minds our local college offers. We are confident that this collaboration will support our continuous striving for excellence at W.T. Hawkins and benefit Hawkins Cheezie lovers across the country.”

Learn more about applied research and innovation at Loyalist College.

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing, Communications and Events
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com