Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – July 14, 2026) – Happy Belly Food Group Inc. HBFG (OTCQB: HBFGF) (“Happy Belly” or the “Company”), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands, is excited to share that it has finalized a franchise agreement for Kingston, Ontario to open a new Via Cibo Italian Street Food restaurant (“Via Cibo”). This spot will offer fast-casual Italian cuisine made with top-notch traditional ingredients while providing a chef-inspired dining experience focused on fresh, authentic flavors. The Kingston location represents another strategic move for Via Cibo as the brand continues its growth across Ontario through its efficient franchising model.
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“Via Cibo is stepping into its next phase of rapid growth. With five locations already active in Alberta and three in Ontario, the signing of this franchise agreement for Kingston signifies another important milestone in Via Cibo’s ongoing expansion throughout one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions,” said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. “Kingston stands out as one of Ontario’s most established and resilient regional markets, backed by a diverse economy, an increasing population, strong tourism activity, and a significant number of post-secondary students. These qualities make Kingston an exceptional market for Via Cibo’s fresh Italian street food concept.
“Our franchise partners continue to see the value in Happy Belly’s scalable operating framework and disciplined growth approach. We can’t wait to collaborate closely with our newest franchisee as we bring Via Cibo to the community and keep expanding our footprint across Ontario.”
Kingston is among Eastern Ontario’s top regional centers, acting as the economic, educational, healthcare, and tourism hub for a large surrounding area. With over 140,000 residents including Queen’s University students, St. Lawrence College attendees, Canadian Forces Base Kingston personnel, and bustling downtown visitors year-round drives consumer activity from students to professionals and military members alike. Its prime location along Highway 401 connecting Toronto to Ottawa and Montréal adds more appeal alongside ongoing residential and commercial development making it perfect for Via Cibo’s quality fast-casual Italian dining experience that supports long-term franchise success.
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“Every new franchise agreement highlights the strength of our brand portfolio and our ability to draw experienced entrepreneurs looking for scalable restaurant ventures,” Sean Black added. “Our franchise development pipeline keeps growing as we implement our strategy of nurturing great brands with great operators.
“With eight locations currently operational and over 23 secured under area development agreements across key Canadian markets, Via Cibo plays an important role within Happy Belly’s broader portfolio comprising 686 contractually committed retail franchise locations spanning multiple emerging brands at various stages of development.” Our systematic growth model consistently delivers solid results as we expand our brands throughout Canada while generating lasting value for our shareholders.
“We are just getting started,” added Sean Black.
About Via Cibo
Via Cibo operates entirely through franchising with well-established street-front real estate sites located in both Ontario and Alberta. We provide authentic Italian street food crafted from high-quality traditional ingredients aimed at those who want quick yet delicious meals that respect culinary traditions without requiring extensive time or expense. At Via Cibo you can savor genuine Italian dishes served quickly so you can enjoy your meal without delay; order from one of our friendly greeters while our servers bring your fresh creations right to your table within ten minutes or less! At Via Cibo you’ll find what Italians rave about-an open kitchen where you can smell the cooking aromas watch chefs at work share bites with friends all while enjoying our passion for good food!
Franchising
For inquiries about franchising opportunities please visit www. happybellyfg. com/franchise-with-us/ or reach us via email at hello@happybellyfg. com.
About Happy Belly Food Group
Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
HBFG (OTCQB: HBFGF) (“Happy Belly” or the “Company”) specializes in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands. The Company’s offerings include Heal Wellness , Rosie’s Burgers , Yolks Breakfast , Via Cibo Italian Street Food , among others.![]()
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Sean Black
Co-founder , Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Moniz
Co-founder , President
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION , PLEASE VISIT :
www : www. happybellyfg. com or email hello@happybellyfg. com If you wish to contact us , please call : 1-877-589-8805
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.
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