Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 10, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada is pleased to announce that its existing multi-unit franchisee in Alberta has completed its 10 unit agreement and has now signed an amendment to increase their commitment to 15 units for Heal Wellness. Heal Wellness ("Heal") is a fresh smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and smoothies quick serve restaurant ...

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has opened its 27th Heal Wellness location in Calgary, Alberta, with the grand opening scheduled for July 12, 2025 [1][2] - The company is experiencing significant growth and brand recognition across Canada, positioning Heal as a national smoothie bowl brand [3][4] - Happy Belly's strategy combines organic growth with strategic acquisitions, leading to a robust franchise pipeline and expansion plans [2][7] Company Expansion - The new Heal Wellness location is part of a broader expansion strategy, with more units under construction in Alberta, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island [4] - A total of 195 units for Heal Wellness are secured under development agreements across Canada, indicating a strong growth trajectory [4][7] - The Happy Belly portfolio includes 616 retail locations under contract, showcasing a disciplined approach to growth through careful partner selection and prime real estate [7] Brand Development - Heal Wellness aims to provide quick, fresh wellness foods, focusing on smoothie bowls and smoothies made with superfood ingredients [8] - The brand is gaining customer loyalty and recognition, with existing franchisees expanding into multi-unit ownership, reflecting confidence in the operational model [3][4] - The company's asset-light approach and strong franchise engagement are unlocking value for stakeholders and signaling long-term growth potential [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is expanding its presence in Canada with the opening of its 26th Heal Wellness location, indicating strong growth and a strategic focus on scaling emerging food brands [1][3]. Company Expansion - The new Heal Wellness location is situated in Aurora, Ontario, and will officially open on July 5, 2025 [1]. - The company has experienced significant growth, with more locations under construction and scheduled to open throughout 2025 [3][4]. - Happy Belly has secured 195 units under development agreements across Canada, positioning itself for continued expansion as Heal aims to become a national smoothie bowl brand [4][6]. Franchise Development - Happy Belly has a robust franchise pipeline with 606 retail locations under contract, which includes projects in various stages of development [6]. - The company emphasizes careful selection of partners and prime real estate to maintain growth momentum through 2026 [6]. Product Offering - Heal Wellness focuses on providing quick, fresh wellness foods, including a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies made with superfood ingredients [7].

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed an area development agreement for the province of Manitoba, adding 15 new locations for its Heal Wellness brand, which specializes in smoothie bowls and quick-serve restaurant offerings [1][3] - With this agreement, Heal Wellness is now represented in all 10 provinces of Canada, totaling 195 contractually committed locations nationwide [1][3] - The company anticipates significant organic growth due to its emerging brand portfolio, which now includes 606 units under development agreements across Canada [3][4] Company Strategy - The expansion into Manitoba is seen as a strategic move, leveraging the province's urban vibrancy and community spirit to enhance the Heal Wellness brand's presence [4][5] - The company aims to capitalize on the growing demand for fresh, innovative dining options in Manitoba, particularly in Winnipeg, which has a dynamic food scene [4][5] - Happy Belly's overarching strategy focuses on the development and growth of emerging brands within the food sector, with expectations that new locations will contribute positively to overall revenue and profitability [5] Brand Overview - Heal Wellness is dedicated to providing quick, fresh wellness foods that cater to busy lifestyles, offering a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies made from high-quality superfood ingredients [5] - The brand positions itself as Canada's first true national smoothie bowl brand, emphasizing its first-mover advantage in the market [4]

Core Viewpoint - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is expanding its Heal Wellness brand with the opening of a new location in Toronto, marking significant growth in its franchise operations and solidifying its position as a leading smoothie bowl brand in Canada [1][2][3]. Company Expansion - The new Heal location will be situated in a high foot-traffic area in Toronto and is expected to open in late Q1 of 2026 [1]. - Heal Wellness currently operates 25 locations, with plans for further national expansion through a disciplined approach to both organic and inorganic growth [3][5]. - Happy Belly has a total of 591 franchise locations contractually committed across its portfolio, which includes units in planning, construction, and operation [5]. Brand Strength - The company emphasizes its commitment to delivering quality products, working with great people, and establishing sustainable processes as the foundation of its success [3]. - The growth of franchise partners and the addition of new locations validate the strength of Happy Belly's emerging brand portfolio [2]. Future Outlook - The company anticipates finalizing more franchise agreements and premium site selections, contributing to predictable growth in 2025 and 2026 [2][5]. - Happy Belly's development pipeline is gaining momentum, with expectations for more openings in the coming months [5].

Happy Belly Food Group Sets Single Day Record with Four Restaurant Openings Including iQ Food Co., Heal Wellness & Rosie's Burgers at Shops at Don Mills as well as Heal Wellness in the City of BoltonJune 20, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Source: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada, is pleased to announce a ...

Core Viewpoint - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed an area development agreement to open 40 franchised restaurants of Heal Wellness in Quebec, marking a significant expansion for both the company and the brand [1][3]. Company Expansion - Heal Wellness is rapidly establishing a national presence, now operating in its 9th province across Canada, with a total of 180 contractually committed units across Canada and the U.S. [3] - The expansion into Quebec is seen as a significant opportunity due to the lack of a clear category leader in the province, allowing Happy Belly to leverage its first mover advantage [3]. Strategic Partnerships - Happy Belly is partnering with a Quebec-based area developer team that has over 22 years of experience in launching and supporting both corporate and franchised operations, which is expected to enhance Heal's success in the province [3]. Growth Strategy - The company has 591 retail franchise locations contractually committed, covering various stages of planning, construction, and operation, indicating a steady expansion pipeline into 2025 and 2026 [4]. - Happy Belly's asset-light franchise model is central to its growth strategy, allowing for disciplined organic expansion while maximizing asset value [4]. Brand Overview - Heal Wellness focuses on providing quick, fresh wellness foods, including a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies, crafted with real fruit and superfood ingredients [5].

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed a new franchise agreement and secured a prime real estate location in Toronto, marking the third operational brand in a high-potential neighborhood [1][4] - The new location will feature iQ Food Co., a Toronto-based QSR known for its healthy and clean-eating dishes, and is expected to open in late Q3 2025 [1][10] - The company aims to expand iQ Food Co. significantly, with plans for 65 new locations across Canada, including 20 in Alberta, 25 in Ontario, and 20 in British Columbia [5][9] Expansion Strategy - The acquisition of iQ Food Co. was completed on September 18, 2024, when the brand operated four locations, and since then, the company has rapidly scaled the business [3][7] - The signing of the franchise agreement represents a 75% increase in unit count for iQ, with expectations to double system sales within 12 months of acquisition [7][9] - Happy Belly currently has 551 contractually committed retail franchise locations in various stages of planning, construction, and operation, with ongoing efforts to expand this pipeline into 2025 and 2026 [9][12] Market Position - iQ Food Co. has established itself as a leader in the premium healthy eating category, strategically located in urban and business districts, catering to health-conscious customers [7][10] - The brand is also expanding its catering services to reach a broader audience, enhancing brand awareness and customer loyalty [7][10] - The company emphasizes disciplined, organic expansion with a focus on key urban markets across Canada [7][9]

Core Viewpoint - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has made significant progress in expanding its franchise operations, particularly with the Heal Wellness brand, by securing a prime real estate location in Charlottetown, PEI, and signing multiple franchise agreements across Canada [1][3][5]. Company Developments - The company has signed a franchisee for the province of Prince Edward Island and secured a location in Charlottetown, with plans to open in late Q3 2025 [1][3]. - The franchisee is an experienced operator who currently owns Lettuce Love Café and HEAL Wellness in Hamilton [1]. - Happy Belly has announced an area development agreement for Heal in Atlantic Canada and is ready to begin construction for the new location [3]. Growth Strategy - Happy Belly aims to accelerate growth through organic development and targeted acquisitions, with a focus on expanding the Heal Wellness brand as a national smoothie bowl brand [5]. - The company currently has 551 retail franchise locations contractually committed across its portfolio, which includes locations in planning, under construction, or already in operation [5]. - The company is actively working to grow its pipeline into 2025 and 2026 by aligning with the right partners and securing high-quality real estate [5].

Core Viewpoint - Dutch Bros is a rapidly growing handcrafted beverage chain with a unique culture and strong customer loyalty, making it an attractive investment opportunity despite its significant share price increase over the past year [1][2]. Company Culture and Customer Loyalty - Dutch Bros emphasizes speed, quality, and service, with a focus on customizable drinks, primarily served through drive-thru locations [3]. - The company differentiates itself from traditional coffee chains, with 87% of its drinks being iced or blended, and a diverse product mix including coffee, energy drinks, smoothies, teas, and lemonades [4]. - A significant 72% of sales come from Dutch Rewards members, indicating strong customer loyalty and engagement [5]. - The Dutch Rewards program facilitates direct communication with loyal customers, influencing product offerings and service improvements [6]. - Dutch Bros has received numerous customer service awards and ranks highly as an employer, attracting a large number of job applications [7]. Growth Potential - Dutch Bros currently operates around 1,000 locations, with plans to expand to 2,029 by 2029 and a long-term goal of over 7,000 stores [9]. - The majority of its stores are concentrated in five states, highlighting significant growth opportunities in other regions of the U.S. [10]. - The brand's appeal is resonating in new markets, as evidenced by strong store openings and a pipeline of experienced operator candidates [11]. - Existing locations are expected to become more profitable over time, supported by a 15-year streak of same-store sales growth [12]. Financial Health and Self-Funding - Dutch Bros is generating improving cash from operations (CFO), which is crucial for funding its growth without diluting shareholder value [13][14]. - The company has reached breakeven free cash flow (FCF), allowing it to fund expansion plans internally [16]. - For instance, Dutch Bros plans to invest $250 million in capital expenditures for 160 new stores in 2025, primarily funded by its CFO of $242 million generated over the last year [17]. - Despite a high valuation of 53 times CFO, the company's growth potential may justify this premium [18]. Summary of Strengths - Loyal customer base [19] - Top-tier culture and brand [19] - Potential to double store count by 2029 [19] - Opportunity for sevenfold growth in locations over the long term [19] - Track record of consistent same-store sales growth [19] - Improving cash from operations generation [19] - Potential to reduce shareholder dilution [19]