Happy Belly Food Group Inc., a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada, says iQ Food Co. has secured a real estate location for its first restaurant in Western Canada, located in Calgary.
With the signing of this lease, it marks the 1st location expansion outside of Ontario for the brand, a significant milestone in iQ’s national expansion strategy, it said, adding it supports the company’s continued execution against its organic growth pipeline.
iQ is a premium healthy-eating quick service restaurant concept known for its “vibrant menu of nourishing, clean-eating dishes including healthy bowls, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and salads, crafted to satisfy a wide range of tastes and lifestyles.”
“Securing our first Western Canada location marks an important step in our national expansion plan for iQ and for Happy Belly,” said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly Food Group. “Calgary is a compelling, health-forward market with strong customer fundamentals which is an ideal fit for iQ’s positioning. This location reflects our disciplined approach to expansion by prioritizing high-quality real estate that supports consistent daily demand and attractive unit economics.
“The momentum behind iQ continues to validate both the strength of the concept and our execution. At the time of acquisition in Q3 2024, iQ operated four locations. We have since grown our footprint to 7 opened locations, with number 8 opening in Q2 2026, so Calgary will be our 9th location in Canada. With Area Development Agreements across Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia totaling 65 committed units, we are building the foundation to scale iQ into a nationally recognized brand and drive sustained expansion in Canada’s most attractive urban markets.
“Our focus remains on accelerating growth through organic development and targeted acquisitions. With a growing pipeline of restaurants across Canada, iQ continues to strengthen Happy Belly’s broader portfolio of 666 contractually committed retail franchise locations across multiple emerging brands, spanning various stages of development, construction, and operation. Our disciplined, predictable growth engine is delivering measurable results as we expand our brands across Canada and the U.S., creating long-term value for shareholders.”
Happy Belly Food Group 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, iQ Food Co., and others.
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