Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed a franchise agreement and secured real estate for a new Heal Wellness location in Cochrane, Alberta, as part of its national expansion strategy [1][3][6] - The new location is set to open in Q1 2026 and targets a demographic that values nutritious and convenient food options, aligning with the active lifestyle culture of Cochrane [3][5] - Heal Wellness is expanding rapidly, with 27 locations currently open and over 168 in development across Canada, solidifying its position as a leading quick-service restaurant brand in the wellness sector [7][8] Company Overview - Happy Belly Food Group is focused on acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada, with a diverse portfolio that includes Heal Wellness, Rosie's Burgers, Yolks Breakfast, and Via Cibo Italian Street Food [8][11] - The company currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations in various stages of development, construction, and operation nationwide [8] Market Position - Cochrane is identified as one of Alberta's fastest-growing towns, characterized by a blend of young families, professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts, making it an ideal market for Heal Wellness [5][6] - The Heal Wellness brand is designed to cater to busy, active lifestyles, offering a menu that includes smoothie bowls and super-seed grain bowls made with real fruit and superfoods [7][9]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has secured a new prime real estate location in Toronto for a combination store featuring iQ Food Co. and Heal Wellness, marking the second such pairing in their portfolio [1][2] - The new location is strategically positioned at a high-traffic intersection, targeting a young, urban, health-conscious demographic [5][7] - This expansion follows the successful performance of the first combo store, indicating the scalability of the company's business model [2][8] Company Overview - Happy Belly Food Group is a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada [13] - The company currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its portfolio, with plans for significant expansion in the latter half of 2025 and into 2026 [8] Brand Details - iQ Food Co. is known for its healthy food options, including bowls, smoothies, and sandwiches, and is expanding its presence in Ontario's Greater Toronto Area [7][11] - Heal Wellness focuses on providing quick, fresh wellness foods, including smoothie bowls and superfood ingredients, catering to an active lifestyle [10][11]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is expanding its portfolio by adding Heal Wellness, a quick-service restaurant specializing in fresh smoothie bowls and smoothies, with a new location in Ottawa [1][3][10] - The company has secured a multi-unit franchisee for Heal Wellness, indicating strong confidence in its scalable business model and market demand for its brands [3][6] - Heal Wellness currently has 27 locations open and 168 more in development, showcasing significant growth potential [6][8] Company Expansion - The new Heal Wellness location in Barrhaven, a suburb of Ottawa, is strategically chosen due to the area's growing population and demand for healthy dining options [5][6] - Happy Belly Food Group has a total of 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its brands, indicating a robust expansion strategy [6][10] - The company aims to significantly expand its development pipeline in the latter half of 2025 and into 2026 [6] Brand Positioning - Heal Wellness focuses on providing fresh, nourishing foods that cater to busy, active lifestyles, featuring a menu enriched with superfoods [5][8] - The brand's offerings include a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies, crafted from real fruit and superfoods like acai and chia seeds [8] - Happy Belly's CEO emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships with landlords to facilitate rapid expansion across Canadian markets [5][6]

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 3, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands, today announced the approval and adoption of its 2026-2031 Compensation Growth Plans, designed to retain and incentivize the executive team while aligning compensation directly with long-term shareholder value creation.As the Company nears the successful completion of its five year Phase I growth plan, origina ...

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has appointed Dan Haroun to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership team as it aims for accelerated growth in Canada and the US [1][4]. Group 1: Appointment and Experience - Dan Haroun brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience in the food, retail, and restaurant industries, with a strong track record in scaling brands and improving financial performance [2][3]. - He has served as Chief Financial Officer at Activate Games and previously held executive roles at Freshii, Walmart Canada, Restaurant Brands International, and Tim Hortons, where he developed expertise in procurement, supply chain optimization, and international expansion [2][3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The appointment of Mr. Haroun is seen as a significant asset for Happy Belly as it scales its portfolio of emerging restaurant brands and aims to establish itself as a leading restaurant consolidator in Canada [4]. - His combination of financial insight and operational expertise is expected to provide immediate value to the company's growth strategies [4]. Group 3: Governance Changes - Mark Rechichi has resigned from the Board of Directors to facilitate Dan Haroun's appointment, and the company has expressed gratitude for Rechichi's contributions [5]. - Happy Belly has granted 62,500 stock options to Dan Haroun, exercisable at $1.50 per share for five years, aligning his incentives with the company's performance [6][7].

Core Viewpoint - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire the remaining 50% ownership interest in Heal Wellness, aiming to own 100% of the quick-service restaurant brand specializing in fresh smoothie bowls and smoothies [1][8]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition is set to close on October 9, 2025, with a purchase price of $3,896,948 CAD, which will be settled through the transfer of previously issued shares and the issuance of additional shares [8][9]. - Happy Belly initially acquired a controlling interest in Heal Wellness on May 5, 2022, through a share exchange agreement [2][3]. Business Growth - Heal Wellness has expanded from two locations to twenty-seven operating stores across Canada, with a robust pipeline of 168 additional locations under signed agreements [5][6]. - The brand has signed area development agreements in all 10 Canadian provinces and initiated international expansion with a 10-unit development agreement in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas [6][7]. Strategic Importance - Heal Wellness is considered a cornerstone of Happy Belly's portfolio, demonstrating the effectiveness of the company's model in identifying, scaling, and franchising emerging restaurant brands [7]. - The asset-light franchise program has been pivotal in Heal's rapid growth, allowing for expansion while preserving capital [6][7].

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced the signing of a real-estate location for its brand Heal Wellness in Montreal, Quebec, with a targeted opening in Q1 2026 [1][3] - Heal Wellness specializes in fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and smoothies, marking a significant step in its coast-to-coast expansion [1][4] Company Expansion - The new location in Quebec is part of Heal Wellness's strategy to establish a footprint in a key growth market, supported by multiple franchise partners in the region [3][4] - Happy Belly currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across all its emerging brands, with plans to expand this pipeline significantly in the latter half of 2025 and into 2026 [6] Brand Vision - Heal Wellness aims to become North America's leading smoothie bowl chain, focusing on strong unit economics and scalability [4] - The company has 27 locations already operating and 168 more in development, indicating a robust growth trajectory [4]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has successfully closed the earn-out agreement for the acquisition of the Via Cibo Restaurant Chain, which specializes in fast-casual Italian street food [1][6] - The integration of Via Cibo into Happy Belly's franchising framework has led to increased operational efficiencies and a rise in EBITDA for the brand [3][5] Acquisition Details - The Via Cibo brand achieved a normalized EBITDA of $160,805 for the 2024 earn-out year, exceeding the forecasted $75,000 by $85,805 [6] - The earn-out payment will be made at a 6x multiple, resulting in a total payment of $514,830 to the sellers, who will receive this amount in shares at a 10-day VWAP of $1.29 [6] Growth Strategy - Happy Belly's asset-light franchise model supports accelerated growth across its brands, with a focus on disciplined expansion in the Canadian QSR market [5] - The company has secured 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its portfolio, indicating a robust growth pipeline [5] Brand Performance - Via Cibo has opened a new location in Barrhaven, Ottawa, and signed a second franchisee for the Niagara Falls region, along with a 15-Unit Area Development Agreement in Ontario [3][5] - The brand emphasizes a customer-first approach while maintaining high product quality and value [3] Related Party Transaction - The transaction involving Via Cibo includes directors of Happy Belly, qualifying it as a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 [7] - The company is relying on exemptions from formal valuation and minority approval requirements due to the transaction's market capitalization implications [7][8]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced a franchise agreement for Heal Wellness in midtown Toronto, marking a significant step in expanding its brand presence in the quick-service restaurant sector focused on wellness foods [1][3][10] Company Overview - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is recognized as a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada [10] - The company currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its portfolio, which includes brands in various stages of development [5] Heal Wellness Brand - Heal Wellness specializes in fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and smoothies, aiming to establish itself as North America's leading smoothie bowl chain [3][7] - The brand emphasizes the use of superfood ingredients in its offerings, catering to health-conscious consumers [7] Growth Strategy - The company plans to drive organic growth and expand its franchise pipeline significantly in the latter half of 2025 and into 2026 [5][3] - Heal Wellness has 27 locations currently operating and 168 more in development, indicating a robust growth trajectory [3]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced the securing of a real estate location for the first Quebec-based Rosie's Burgers in Montreal's Mile End neighborhood, with construction set to begin imminently [1][3] - This location marks the first of ten stores planned under a multi-unit franchise agreement with Carma Hospitality in the Greater Montreal Area, indicating a strategic expansion into a growing market [3][5] - The Mile End area is characterized by a high-density, walkable community with a strong culinary reputation, making it an ideal location for the launch of Rosie's Burgers [3][5] Company Expansion Strategy - Happy Belly has secured 115 Rosie's locations under Multi-Unit and Area Development agreements across various provinces, including Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, positioning the brand for rapid growth [5][7] - The company employs a dual expansion strategy that combines franchised growth with targeted corporate store openings, reinforcing its commitment to accelerate Rosie's development [5][7] - Happy Belly currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its emerging brands, indicating a robust growth trajectory and ambition to become Canada's leading restaurant consolidator [7][9] Brand Positioning - Rosie's Burgers focuses on delivering handcrafted smash burgers and classic comfort food, appealing to a trend-conscious population that values innovative yet approachable dining options [8] - The brand aims to leverage its proven track record in the burger space and a high-performing franchise model to establish itself as Canada's leading smash burger brand [5][7]