Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 14, 2026) - 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 a franchise agreement for the City of Kingston, Ontario for a new Via Cibo Italian Street Food restaurant ("Via Cibo"), serving fast-casual Italian cuisine crafted with the finest traditional ingredients while delivering a chef-driven dining experience centered on fresh, authentic flavour. This Kingston location marks another strategic expansion for Via Cibo as the brand continues to grow across Ontario through its disciplined, asset-light franchising model.
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"Via Cibo is entering its next phase of accelerated growth. With five locations already operating in Alberta and three in Ontario, the signing of this franchise agreement for Kingston, Ontario, represents another meaningful step in Via Cibo's continued expansion across one of Canada's strongest growth corridors," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Kingston is one of Ontario's most established and resilient regional markets, supported by a diverse economy, a growing population, strong tourism, and a significant post-secondary student base. These characteristics make Kingston an outstanding market for Via Cibo's fresh, chef-inspired Italian street food concept.
"Our franchise partners continue to recognize the strength of Happy Belly's scalable operating platform and disciplined growth strategy. We look forward to working closely with our newest franchisee as we introduce Via Cibo to the community and continue expanding our presence throughout Ontario."
Kingston is one of Eastern Ontario's premier regional centres, serving as the economic, educational, healthcare, and tourism hub for a large surrounding trade area. Home to more than 140,000 residents, Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, and a thriving downtown waterfront, the city benefits from year-round consumer activity driven by students, professionals, military personnel, healthcare workers, and visitors. Its strategic location along Highway 401 between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal, combined with continued residential and commercial growth, provides an ideal environment for Via Cibo's premium fast-casual Italian dining experience and long-term franchise success.