Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce that its Smash Burger brand Rosie's Burgers has secured a 5 store multi-unit agreement for the province of British Columbia. Rosie's Burgers ("Rosie's") is a boutique QSR restaurant brand serving original recipe smash burgers, poutine, onion rings, milkshakes and more.
"As we continue driving the organic growth of our brands, we are thrilled to welcome an experienced multi-unit franchisee to the Happy Belly family. This five-unit agreement for Rosie's Burgers is a significant milestone and serves as our market entrance into national expansion and our first foothold in the province of British Columbia. It exemplifies the strength of our brand and the confidence franchisees have in our long-term vision," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Rosie's Burgers has quickly established itself as a standout brand in the smash burger space, known for its quality, consistency, and exceptional customer experience. This agreement is a testament to the growing demand for the brand and the robust franchise model we've built to support scalable growth. This is the first 5 of 20 contractually committed units for British Columbia under our area development agreement. Lots of open ice in front of us, and I could not be more excited about the growth to come with site selection already underway."
"Beyond just expanding our footprint, this agreement highlights the strength of our franchise support system—from site selection and operational training to marketing and ongoing business development. We take pride in providing our franchisees with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and the commitment of a seasoned operator underscores the trust in our processes, people, and brand momentum."
"Our team's deep expertise in the burger category positions Rosie's Burgers for a strong and sustained growth trajectory in the years ahead. With 85 units contractually committed to in area development agreements across Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, the momentum behind the brand continues to build. Thanks to our experienced network of Area Developers across Canada, we are consistently securing both single-unit and multi-unit franchise agreements, reinforcing our ability to scale efficiently. A key driver of this success is Stephen Travers, who has played an instrumental role in franchise growth across multiple brands in our portfolio. With 22 years of experience and a proven track record of establishing dozens of locations in Western Canada, Stephen's leadership and execution skills are invaluable to our expansion strategy."
"Our asset-light franchise model enables Happy Belly to continue accelerating growth across all our brands. With a strong foundation, strategic leadership, and a dedicated franchise support system, we are well-positioned to drive sustained success in the Canadian QSR market. This is another step forward in our mission to become a predictable and disciplined growth company, Canada's next great restaurant consolidator."
We are just getting started
About Rosie's Burgers Deliciously handcrafted smashed burgers, golden fries, and classic milkshakes. Rosie's is your neighbourhood burger shop serving up nostalgic flavours you know, love, and crave. From our Smashburger's and French fries to strawberry shakes and onion rings—we're all about keeping things simple and perfecting tradition. Because the classics were made classic for a reason, right?
About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca.
