The business of dehydrating food is not likely to rivet the minds of many.
CanDry Technologies understands that, while also recognizing that tastier and more nutritious food in the hands of customers does rivet their taste buds.
The BC-based company is pioneering company the dehydration of heat-sensitive products through technology that preserves nutrients, improves food safety, and promotes sustainability—all at a lower operating cost.
“With our state-of-the-art technology, we aim to disrupt traditional dehydration methods and provide the market with a highly scalable, energy efficient, and cost-effective solution,” the company states online, citing a mission to “maximize the nutritional value of processed dried products and minimize the dehydration cost.”
CanDry claims that its patented dehydration technology preserves nutrients and pigments faster than other drying methods, while also offering a smaller physical footprint and more scalability than traditional solutions.
“By combining microwave and infrared drying methods, it retains essential nutrients, vitamins, and flavours, delivering nutrient-rich end products that appeal to health-conscious consumers,” CanDry says of its tech.
The key is “low temperature” drying, CanDry says, which the company utilizes to preserve quality and nutritional value. This tactic minimizes heat damage and reduces risk of nutrient loss. It can also enhance shelf life.
The company works with clients to understand unique drying requirements, then provides customized solutions tailored to specific product characteristics and industry standards. Currently, CanDry is looking to push the boundaries of what it can dry.
For example, CanDry has received government funding to determine whether the company’s drying tech can apply to the berry market. The funding comes through the BC Fast Pilot Program, which has boosted CanDry more than once, according to cofounder Hamid Rezaei.
“In the realm of startup companies, building trust with industrial partners is often one of the most challenging tasks,” he stated. “However, Innovate BC has significantly eased this process by providing access to the BC Fast Pilot Program. This initiative is strategically designed to mitigate collaboration risks for both technology providers and customers, fostering an environment of trust and cooperation.”
Rezaei said his firm “has effectively leveraged this program on two occasions, resulting in strong prospective clients for our commercial machine sales.”
In total, CanDry has attracted $2.5 million in government funding.
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