Happy Belly Food Group (OTCQB: HBFGF) announced that its Heal Wellness QSR secured a franchisee and a real estate location in Shawnessey Village, Calgary, with an anticipated opening in Q2 2026. The move supports Heal’s asset-light growth across Western Canada and targets high daily traffic and dense residential catchment. Heal operates 31 open locations, has 177 locations in development, and contributes to Happy Belly’s 666 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its brand portfolio. Management said the site aligns with Heal’s health-forward, convenience-driven format as the brand expands across Alberta, Canada, and into the U.S.
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Secured franchisee and location in Shawnessey Village with Q2 2026 anticipated open
31 Heal locations currently open
177 Heal locations in development
666 contractually committed retail franchise locations across Happy Belly portfolio
01/14/2026 – 06:00 AM
Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – January 14, 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 that its Heal Wellness brand (“Heal”) has secured both a franchisee and a real estate location in Shawnessey Village, a high-traffic retail node in Calgary, Alberta. This milestone further advances Heal’s disciplined, asset-light growth strategy across key Western Canadian markets with an anticipated open in Q2 2026. Heal Wellness is a fast-growing quick-service restaurant (“QSR”) brand specializing in fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and smoothies, built around clean ingredients and a better-for-you lifestyle.
Happy Belly 1
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“This secured franchisee and real estate commitment in Shawnessey Village reflects our continued focus on pairing strong operators with premium, high-visibility trade areas,” said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly Food Group. “Shawnessey Village benefits from strong daily traffic, dense surrounding residential communities, and a well-established retail environment anchored by major national tenants. A vibrant retail destination serving South Calgary, supported by a mix of grocery, fitness, service, and restaurant tenants. These market fundamentals align exceptionally well with Heal’s health-forward, convenience-driven offering as we continue to expand across Alberta.”
Heal Wellness continues to gain momentum as consumer demand for functional, wellness-focused QSR concepts grows across both urban and suburban markets. With its strong brand positioning, scalable format, and expanding franchise pipeline, Heal is well positioned to deepen its footprint across Alberta and other key Canadian regions.
“Heal Wellness continues to expand rapidly across Canada and into the United States, solidifying its position as a leading acai and smoothie bowl brand. With 31 locations now open and more than 177 in development, Heal contributes to Happy Belly’s broader portfolio of 666 contractually committed retail franchise locations across multiple emerging brands in various stages of development, construction, and operation. Our predictable and disciplined growth engine continues to deliver measurable results as we expand our brands across Canada and the U.S. to create long-term value for our shareholders.”
Happy Belly 2
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“We are just getting started,” added Sean Black.
About Heal Wellness
Heal Wellness was founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more.
Franchising
For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com.
About Happy Belly Food Group
Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) (“Happy Belly” or the “Company”) is a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands. The Company’s portfolio includes Heal Wellness, Rosie’s Burgers, Yolks Breakfast, Via Cibo Italian Street Food, and others.
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Sean Black
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer
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.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280338
FAQ
What did Happy Belly (HBFGF) announce for Heal Wellness in Calgary on January 14, 2026?
Heal Wellness secured a franchisee and a real estate location in Shawnessey Village, Calgary, with an anticipated opening in Q2 2026.
When is the new Heal Wellness Shawnessey Village location expected to open for HBFGF?
The company anticipates the Shawnessey Village Heal Wellness location will open in Q2 2026.
How many Heal Wellness locations does Happy Belly report are open and in development for HBFGF?
Happy Belly reports 31 Heal locations open and 177 in development.
How many total contractually committed franchise locations does Happy Belly say it has for HBFGF?
The company reports 666 contractually committed retail franchise locations across its portfolio.
How does the Shawnessey Village site fit Heal Wellness’s growth strategy for HBFGF?
Management says the high-traffic, residentially dense Shawnessey Village aligns with Heal’s health-forward, convenience-driven QSR format and asset-light expansion in Western Canada.
Does the HBFGF announcement confirm U.S. expansion for Heal Wellness?
The release states Heal is expanding across Canada and into the United States but gives no U.S. site-level details in this announcement.
