Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2026) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging restaurant brands, is pleased to announce the grand opening of Heal Wellness ("Heal") in Red Deer, Alberta, this Saturday January 10th, marking the brand's 31st operating location nationwide. The new restaurant is located at 499 Timberlands Drive, Unit #9105, within a high-traffic retail node serving one of Central Alberta's faste ...

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2026) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging restaurant brands, is pleased to announce that its multi-unit franchisee for Heal Wellness ("Heal") QSR in Alberta secures its 11th real estate location. This milestone further advances Heal's disciplined, asset-light growth strategy to scale into a leading smoothie and açaí bowl brand across North America. Heal Wellness is a fast ...

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2026) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging restaurant brands, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Thomas as Executive Vice President of Finance, effective immediately.Mr. Thomas joins Happy Belly with more than 25 years of senior financial leadership experience, including deep expertise in franchised restaurant systems, public and private company reporting, and m ...

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands, is pleased to announce that it has signed an area development agreement for the province of Alberta for the contractual opening of ten (10) franchised Via Cibo Italian restaurants ("Via Cibo"), serving fast-casual Italian foods crafted with the finest traditional ingredients, offering a chef-driven culinary ...

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed a franchise agreement and secured a prime real estate location for a new Rosie's Burgers restaurant in Whitby, Ontario, indicating ongoing expansion efforts [1][4]. Group 1: Franchise Expansion - The new Rosie's Burgers location in Whitby is part of a broader strategy to accelerate expansion across Canada, with a focus on high-quality markets [4]. - The company has secured 115 Rosie's locations under multi-unit and area development agreements across key Canadian provinces, positioning the brand for rapid growth [6]. - Happy Belly's dual expansion strategy combines franchised growth with targeted corporate store openings, reinforcing its commitment to becoming a leading restaurant consolidator in Canada [6]. Group 2: Market Positioning - The Whitby site is strategically located in a high-visibility retail corridor, benefiting from strong daily traffic and proximity to families and professionals, which aligns with the target demographic for Rosie's offerings [4]. - Happy Belly Food Group currently has 646 contractually committed retail franchise locations in various stages of development, construction, and operation, focusing on long-term shareholder value through franchising [6]. Group 3: Company Overview - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is recognized as a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada, emphasizing its role in the food industry [8].

Core Insights - Howard Johnson's, once the largest restaurant chain in the U.S. with around 1,000 locations in the 1970s, has closed its final restaurant in 2022 after 97 years of operation [2][3]. Company Overview - Founded in 1925 near Boston by Howard D. Johnson, the brand was known for its consistency, offering the same menu and service standards across all locations [2][3]. - The chain was characterized by its iconic orange-roofed restaurants, a wide variety of ice cream flavors, and classic American fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers [4]. Historical Significance - Howard Johnson's played a significant role in American dining culture, particularly for families traveling on highways, and was one of the first to standardize franchise operations in the U.S. [4]. - The brand is remembered for pioneering consistent fast-food dining and contributing to the family travel culture in mid-20th-century America [4].

Core Insights - The article highlights the entrepreneurial journey of Jaymes Lee Kim Meng, who successfully opened seven convenience stores by the age of 30, emphasizing the challenges and strategies involved in running a 24/7 business [1][2]. Financial Strategy - Meng's initial motivation for opening convenience stores was to achieve financial security and diversify income sources, benefiting from favorable franchise terms with 7-Eleven, which allowed him to start with only $20,000 instead of the typical $40,000 upfront fee [1][2]. - The financial model of franchising provided Meng with a pathway to scale his business, as he was able to secure favorable deals for his first two stores, although he had to pay the full price for his third store [2]. Lifestyle Choices - A frugal lifestyle played a crucial role in Meng's ability to scale quickly, as he minimized personal expenses by avoiding holidays, extravagant celebrations, and luxury purchases, focusing instead on basic living [3]. - By utilizing public transport instead of owning a car, Meng significantly reduced his costs, which contributed to long-term wealth accumulation and the ability to generate cash flow from multiple commercial locations [3]. Business Operations - Initially, Meng worked directly in his stores to ensure operations ran smoothly, especially during staff shortages, but as he expanded, he transitioned to a managerial role, hiring staff to operate the stores while he focused on business development [4].

Core Insights - The franchise model allows fast-food chains to expand rapidly and build brand recognition, but it also introduces significant risks related to quality control and brand reputation [2][3] Company-Specific Summary - McDonald's is closing its only downtown Oakland location, affecting approximately 40 employees, with the closure set for November 30, 2025 [4] - Employees were reportedly given only ten days' notice before the closure, leading to a worker strike on November 25, 2025, as many expressed shock and frustration [5][6] - The closure follows a health controversy involving a rat infestation at the same location, which had previously been shut down by health authorities [7][8] - McDonald's has faced past issues with franchisees, including violations of child labor laws, resulting in significant fines for some franchise operators [10][11] Industry Context - The U.S. restaurant industry faces high closure rates, with about 17% of new restaurants failing within their first year and nearly half closing within five years [12] - In 2024, there were 33.2 million businesses in the U.S., with 821,589 being franchised establishments, contributing $41 billion annually to the economy [13] - McDonald's reported a 3.6% year-over-year increase in global comparable sales for Q3 2025, driven by a 7% increase in revenue from franchised restaurants, totaling $4.2 billion [14] - Despite growth, the food service industry is experiencing challenges, with a 1% drop in food service traffic in Q2 2025 and numerous restaurant closures [15][16] - McDonald's CEO expressed caution regarding consumer health and spending, indicating that pressures in the macro environment are expected to persist into 2026 [17]

Core Insights - Buying a franchise offers access to a well-known brand and support from the franchisor, which can lead to customer influx and operational efficiencies [1][2] - Franchise ownership involves ongoing fees and costs, which can limit financial control compared to non-franchised businesses [3][6] Franchise Performance - Regis, the owner of Supercuts, has closed at least 100 locations annually since 2020, with 443 closures reported in 2025 alone [4][8] - The number of closed Supercuts salons increased significantly from 102 in 2020 to 273 in 2021, with 156 closures in 2022 and 196 in 2023 [7] Structural Changes - As of September 30, 2023, the total number of franchised Supercuts salons decreased to 2,060 from 2,264, indicating a net loss of locations [7] - Regis is undergoing a structural shift towards an asset-light franchising model, consolidating and slimming down its brands [7] Customer Retention Strategies - Despite closures, Regis launched a loyalty program in 2024 across 1,900 salons, aiming to stabilize and retain its customer base [8]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced the grand opening of its first Rosie's Burgers location in Atlantic Canada, specifically in Halifax, Nova Scotia, marking the 10th location for the brand in Canada [1][3]. Expansion Strategy - The opening in Halifax is seen as a significant milestone in Rosie's national rollout, highlighting the strength of the brand and the franchise model [3]. - The company has secured 115 Rosie's locations under multi-unit and area development agreements across key Canadian provinces, positioning the brand for rapid scaling as U.S. development begins [5]. Franchise Operations - The new Halifax restaurant is operated by an experienced multi-unit franchisee with a strong track record in the restaurant and hospitality sector, which instills confidence in the opening [5]. - Happy Belly's franchise system focuses on partnering with high-caliber operators to ensure long-term, sustainable performance [5]. Growth Metrics - Across its portfolio, Happy Belly is advancing a disciplined growth strategy with 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations in various stages of development, construction, and operation [5].