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 22, 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 entered into a binding letter of intent to sell Holy Crap Foods, its cereal, and oatmeal brand, for $1,000,000 CDN in cash plus working capital adjustments. "This transaction is a strategic step forward in the Company's plan to focus on its core Quick Service Restaurant ("QS ...

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 - 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].

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group achieved its 14th consecutive record quarter and third consecutive quarter of positive net income from operations, reinforcing its reputation as a disciplined, high-growth multi-brand restaurant operator [2][3] - The company reported significant growth in system sales, total revenues, and adjusted EBITDA, indicating a strong operational performance [3][8] Financial Performance - System-wide sales across Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) totaled $19.2 million in Q3 2025, up 125% compared to Q3 2024, driven by organic growth and an increased restaurant count [6][8] - Total operating revenues reached $7.2 million in Q3 2025, reflecting a 194% increase from $2.5 million in Q3 2024 [6][8] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $0.7 million, or 10.4%, up from $0.1 million, or 4.2%, in the same quarter last year [8] Growth and Expansion - The company added 12 new restaurant locations in Q3 2025, bringing the total to 75 operating locations [3][8] - The growth strategy includes both organic and inorganic methods, with significant acquisitions contributing to the expansion [3][8] - The company anticipates further organic growth in 2026, exceeding original expectations [3] Revenue Streams - Product sales totaled $6.0 million in Q3 2025, up 224% from $1.9 million in Q3 2024 [8] - Royalties and franchise fee revenues reached $1.1 million, a 297% increase from $0.3 million in the prior year [8] Operational Highlights - The company maintains a healthy net working capital of $2.8 million as of September 30, 2025 [8] - Cash flow from operating activities was positive at $0.8 million in Q3 2025, compared to a negative cash flow of $(0.2) million in Q3 2024 [8]

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]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. announces the grand opening of Rosie's Burgers' newest location in Calgary, Alberta, on September 13, 2025, marking the brand's fifth opening this year [1][3] - The CEO highlights the brand's organic growth and the trust franchisees have in Rosie's, indicating strong franchise system performance and significant growth potential across Canada [3][5] - Rosie's Burgers is positioned in a prime location in Bridgeland, Calgary, benefiting from high foot traffic and a demographic that supports both dine-in and takeout [3][5] Expansion Strategy - Happy Belly has secured 115 Rosie's locations under Multi-Unit and Area Development agreements across various provinces, indicating a robust expansion strategy [5][7] - The company employs a dual expansion strategy that combines franchised growth with targeted corporate store openings, aiming to accelerate Rosie's development [5][7] - Happy Belly currently has 626 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its emerging brands, showcasing its commitment to disciplined growth [7] Brand Positioning - Rosie's Burgers focuses on delivering a differentiated guest experience with high-quality products, aiming to become Canada's leading smash burger brand [5][8] - The brand emphasizes its nostalgic menu offerings, including smash burgers, fries, and milkshakes, appealing to a broad customer base [8]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group achieved its 13th consecutive record quarter with a 114% increase in system sales compared to the same quarter last year, reaching $16.2 million [2][4] - The company reported total revenues of $5.7 million in Q2 2025, a 155% increase year-over-year, driven by organic growth and acquisitions [3][4] - Happy Belly opened 12 new restaurant locations in Q2 2025 and has a total of 62 operating restaurants, up 138% from the previous year [3][4] Financial Performance - System-wide sales reached $16.2 million in Q2 2025, up from $7.6 million in Q2 2024, reflecting a 114% increase [4] - Total operating revenues, including vendor rebates and interest income, amounted to $5.7 million in Q2 2025, compared to $2.2 million in Q2 2024, marking a 155% increase [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $0.6 million, representing a margin of 9.9%, a significant improvement from a negative $(0.1) million in the same quarter last year [4][11] Growth Strategy - The company continues to focus on both organic growth and accretive acquisitions, with plans to expand its restaurant portfolio further [3][4] - Happy Belly's management emphasizes a disciplined approach to growth, focusing on the "3P's": People, Product, and Process [3] - The company has signed multiple franchise agreements and development deals across Canada, indicating strong expansion plans [6][10] Operational Highlights - In Q2 2025, Happy Belly generated $0.7 million in cash flow from operating activities and invested $1.1 million in property and equipment [7] - The company added 12 new restaurants during Q2 2025, with further expansions planned in Q3 [7] - As of June 30, 2025, Happy Belly's net working capital was $2.7 million, and total cash and cash equivalents stood at $3.0 million [4]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced the expansion of an existing franchisee's portfolio with a new Franchise Agreement for Rosie's Burgers, marking a significant step in their growth strategy [1][5] - The new location in Abbotsford, British Columbia, is strategically chosen due to the city's strong population growth and diverse demographics, which are expected to drive consumer demand [3][5] - Happy Belly's overall strategy includes securing high-quality real estate and aligning with experienced partners to support rapid expansion across Canada [7] Company Expansion - The company currently has 115 Rosie's locations secured under Multi-Unit and Area Development agreements across various provinces, indicating a robust growth trajectory [5] - Happy Belly's portfolio has expanded to 616 retail locations across Canada, which includes stores in development, under construction, and already operating [7] - The dual expansion strategy combines franchised growth with targeted corporate store openings, reinforcing the company's commitment to scaling Rosie's Burgers [5][7] Market Positioning - Rosie's Burgers is positioned as a differentiated player in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) landscape, focusing on a compelling guest experience and high product quality [5] - The brand aims to become Canada's leading smash burger brand, leveraging its proven track record and strong franchise system [5][7] - The evolving food scene in Abbotsford, supported by a community that values quality and local offerings, is seen as a fertile ground for Rosie's Burgers to thrive [3]

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced the signing of a franchise agreement for Rosie's Burgers in Edmonton's Brewery District, marking the second franchise for this location [1][4] - The new location is strategically positioned near McEwan University, which has over 19,000 students, enhancing visibility and access to a diverse customer base [4][5] - The company has secured 115 Rosie's locations under Multi-Unit and Area Development agreements across various provinces in Canada, indicating a robust expansion strategy [7][8] Company Expansion Strategy - The expansion into Edmonton's Brewery District is part of a national rollout strategy aimed at establishing a presence in key urban markets [4] - The company is focused on a dual expansion strategy that combines franchised growth with targeted corporate store openings, reinforcing its commitment to accelerate Rosie's development [8][10] - Happy Belly's portfolio has rapidly scaled to 616 retail locations secured across Canada, demonstrating a consistent pipeline growth through partnerships and high-quality real estate [10] Market Positioning - Rosie's Burgers is gaining momentum as a standout concept in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) space, attributed to its strong consumer appeal and product excellence [5][8] - The company aims to become Canada's leading smash burger brand, leveraging its proven track record and high-performing franchise model [8][10] - The strategic location of the new franchise in a culturally rich area with high foot traffic is expected to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement [4][5]