AGP Executive Report

Jollibee Expansion: Jollibee is accelerating Canada growth with franchise commitments for 16 new restaurants in British Columbia over five years, plus 10 planned in Edmonton—bringing its committed franchise pipeline to 26 and targeting 54 total Canadian locations within five years. Food Safety Watch: Taylor Farms is dealing with two separate outbreaks—an FDA-linked cyclosporiasis recall tied to iceberg lettuce, and a separate jalapeño-linked salmonella recall affecting products sold in 26 states. Retail & Tech: Yelp is adding ChatGPT-powered dinner booking and waitlists for thousands of U.S. and Canadian locations, aiming to cut the steps from search to reservation. Hospitality Payments: Adyen is expanding its partnership with Toast into the U.S., building on existing payments tech in Canada for restaurant and hospitality operators. Local Fundraising: Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day returns Aug. 13 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with Blizzard proceeds supporting McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation. Innovation: Vancouver’s Cultivated Food Labs is preparing a commercial-scale trial for a cocoa alternative made largely from faba bean hulls, targeting up to 50% cocoa replacement in some applications.

Restaurant Expansion: Jollibee is accelerating its Canada growth, signing a multi-unit development deal to open 16 new restaurants in British Columbia over five years, building on its current four company-owned BC locations and earlier Edmonton commitments. Food & Drink Innovation: New IWSR data says tea is becoming a major platform for drinks innovation, with brands using tea varieties for wellness-led, no- and low-alcohol growth. Quick-Service Shakeup: Burger King has reclaimed the No. 2 spot in the U.S. burger market, while Wendy’s faces continued sales pressure—an industry signal for Canadian operators watching value and traffic trends. Canadian Dining News: Olive Garden is set to open its first Ottawa location in more than two decades, taking over space in Westboro. Local Food Culture: Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula is being highlighted for its “Mediterranean-like” turquoise coastline and standout beach scenery—good summer tourism fuel for nearby food and hospitality. Community Food Events: Barrie’s Troubadour Festival returns Aug. 14–15 with music, art, food, and downtown programming.

Canadian Dairy Trade Tensions: Canada is scrambling after a new U.S. tariff threat and possible extra dairy protein imports could worsen Canadian milk dumping fears and trigger costly payouts for farmers. Fast-Food Shakeup: Wendy’s has slipped from America’s No. 2 burger chain spot after a six-year run, as Burger King’s U.S. turnaround lifts sales while Wendy’s same-store traffic keeps falling. Toronto Hate-Propaganda Case: Toronto police arrested two more people tied to a pro-Palestinian protest investigation, charging them with willful promotion and public incitement of hatred. Food & Community Events: Taste of the Danforth returned to Toronto with enhanced security, while RibFest Langley brings back “You Be the Judge” rib sampling and voting. Canada-Made Ozempic Move: Vimy Pharmaceuticals says a first made-in-Canada generic Ozempic is poised to enter the market as it prepares to go public. Tech & Privacy Buzz: Meta’s smart glasses backlash is growing over covert recording fears, with some places banning the devices.

Food Safety & Recalls: Canadian shoppers get a heads-up as Costco Canada recalls Alfa Croissants over mould risk. Food & Drink Industry: Kellogg Canada is accelerating the removal of artificial colors and BHT from cereals to end sooner than planned. Corporate Moves: Saputo reports fiscal Q1 results for fiscal 2027, while Jamieson Wellness has agreed to be acquired by Kirin in a C$2.5B deal. Retail & Consumer Trends: A new “Ask Maps” push from Google expands food ordering and personal AI features across more markets, pointing to more digital ordering habits. Local Food Events (Canada): Toronto’s Taste of the Danforth returns with enhanced security, and Langley’s RibFest runs Aug. 14–16 with a “You Be the Judge” People’s Choice sampling package. Canadian Food Culture: A new Filipino street festival, Taste of Manila, lands in Toronto Aug. 15–16, billed as Canada’s largest Filipino street festival. Wine & Spirits: Wine Align’s 2026 National Wine Awards highlight standout B.C. performances, with Okanagan and Naramata Bench entries leading the pack.

Street-Food Security: Toronto’s Taste of the Danforth drew thousands to Greektown on day two, with police, fire/paramedics and private security patrolling Danforth Ave amid lingering safety concerns after a recent shooting nearby. Tourism Numbers: Jordan reported 3.15M visitors and nearly JD2.47B in tourism revenue in H1 2026, with major site traffic and events tracked through its national platforms. Fast-Food Tipping Backlash: Chicken Salad Chick faced online outrage after a customer said a gift-card checkout prompted a tip screen, reigniting debate over tipping prompts at the register. Festival Spotlight (Toronto): Taste of Manila returns Aug. 15-16 in Toronto, billed as Canada’s largest Filipino street festival with food, music and cultural programming. Restaurant Ops (Halifax): Chefs in Halifax are changing kitchen culture, including moving toward calmer, no-shouting workflows. Tech Meets Food: Google Maps is expanding “Ask Maps” with AI that can help users order food and book hotels directly in the app. Food Safety/Policy: A U.S. appeals court signaled free-speech concerns in a lobster defamation suit tied to Seafood Watch’s “red list” decision.

Human Trafficking Convictions (Saskatchewan): A Saskatoon judge convicted two restaurant operators, Sohel Haider and Mohammed Masum, of human trafficking in a case involving a Bangladeshi temporary foreign worker exploited for labour; Masum also received sexual assault convictions, with the court calling the decision a precedent for Saskatchewan employment-trafficking cases. Local Food & Tourism (Saskatchewan): The Prince Albert Exhibition kept food at the centre, with vendors serving African and Indigenous dishes alongside classic fair favourites. Restaurant Opening (Prairies): Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House officially opened in Moose Jaw, now operating daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tech Meets Food (Canada-relevant): Google Maps is rolling out Gemini-powered “Ask Maps” features that can help users order food and book hotels without leaving the app, initially via restaurant platforms like Square and Toast. Food Industry Business (Dairy): Saputo confirmed election of directors at its Aug. 7 annual meeting, continuing governance updates for Canada’s major dairy processor. Food Safety/Health (US, Canada watch): WK Kellogg will remove artificial cereal colours earlier than planned, moving toward natural colours by end of 2026.

Dairy & Corporate Governance: Saputo says all 11 director nominees were elected at its Aug. 7 AGM, with votes overwhelmingly in favour across the slate. Food Retail & Pricing: Leon’s Furniture signaled it may pursue “strategic” price increases to offset rising fuel and shipping costs, while stressing it won’t raise prices across the board. Supplements Deal: Jamieson Wellness agreed to be acquired by Kirin in a C$2.5B enterprise-value deal, valuing shares at C$45.75 in cash. Restaurant & QSR Performance: Restaurant Brands reported stronger results, driven by an 8.5% same-store sales jump at Burger King in the U.S., while Popeyes continued to struggle. Food Industry Community: Saskatchewan Open Farm Days returns with 35 farm, ranch, brewery, orchard, restaurant and dairy stops across the province for hands-on visits. Local Openings: Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House officially opened in Moose Jaw, now operating daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food Safety Watch: Canada’s officials are seeing more cyclospora cases, with U.S. deaths tied to the outbreak raising attention on what to eat and avoid. Tech Meets Food: Google Maps expands “Ask Maps” with food ordering and personal AI features rolling out to more markets.

Restaurant Reality Check: A new survey says 64% of Canadian restaurant owners are making less money than last year, with cost pressure hitting food, labour and rent hard. Retail Liquor Convenience: Manitoba’s Liquor Mart opened a window-service kiosk inside a Save-On-Foods in Winnipeg’s Garden City, letting shoppers grab beer, wine and spirits without leaving the grocery run. Tech Meets Takeout: Google Maps is expanding “Ask Maps” to 150+ markets, adding food ordering plus more personalized planning tied to users’ accounts, with partnerships like Square/Toast and Uber Eats planned. Big Deal for Supplements: Japan’s Kirin will buy Jamieson Wellness in a C$2.5B-plus move, aiming to grow health science as beer markets flatten. Energy Drink Headwinds: Celsius reported weaker-than-expected Q2 results, with revenue and margins missing estimates. Food Safety Watch: U.S. lettuce demand is dropping as a cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation leaves some Salinas fields unharvested. Local Flavour Spotlight: A Toronto reviewer says Biryani Spot nails Hyderabadi flavours, including haleem and dum biryani.

QSR Shake-Up: Restaurant Brands International says Tim Hortons sales growth slowed in Q2, with Canadian same-store sales down slightly, while Burger King kept driving the group’s momentum. Convenience Retail Advocacy: The Convenience Industry Council of Canada adds Amanda Gun-Munro as senior VP of public affairs and partnerships, aiming to tackle policy shifts affecting convenience stores, including alcohol and tobacco rules. New Canadian Food Concept: Namkeen founders launch Ori’s Cheesesteaks in Chatham on Aug. 15, bringing house-made sauces, loaded fries and milkshakes. Food Safety Watch: U.S. health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to jalapenos served at Chipotle and other chains, prompting recalls and “don’t serve” guidance. Grocery/Restaurant Tech: Google Maps now lets users order food and reserve services directly through the app. Health & Food Policy Angle: A new piece highlights how Canada’s endoscopy capacity is expanding and how faster diagnosis matters for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. Beverage Industry: Diageo’s new CEO outlines up to $1B in savings and plans to boost Guinness production.

Plant-Based Meat Watch: Beyond Meat says US demand is still weak, but international retail is helping—Europe and Canada (including Germany, Canada and the UK) drove retail net revenue up 16.5% in Q2 as foodservice declines continue. Health & Food Access: Manitoba reports a major endoscopy turnaround, cutting the backlog 85% to 1,678 and dropping average waits to 69 days—good news for digestive-disease diagnosis. Legal/Seafood: A US appeals court is weighing whether lobster-industry defamation claims against Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch can proceed, with First Amendment concerns front and centre. Local Food Economy: Richmond Night Market is ending at its current Fraser River site after 26 years, with organizers citing a lease end; the market’s food vendors and fusion bites were a big draw. Dairy Aisle Shift: Consumers are increasingly prioritizing protein, digestion and health, pushing growth in lactose-free and easier-to-digest dairy options. Hospitality & Travel: Swiss Water reports higher processed volumes and plans a share buyback as premium decaf demand holds up.

Dairy & Alternatives: Canadian dairy brands are leaning harder into easier-to-digest products, with lactose-free options and ultra-filtered milk helping drive renewed interest in animal-based dairy alongside plant-based demand. Beef Pricing Pressure: Columnist Sylvain Charlebois argues cheap Australian beef may be a short-term pressure valve for Canadian consumers until domestic beef becomes affordable again, after years of high prices pushed shoppers away from beef. Functional Nutrition: Ingredion says its Texture & Healthful Solutions unit is still gaining momentum as manufacturers invest in clean-label, texture and health-focused reformulations, while traditional high-volume ingredients lag. Sweetener Reformulation: Ingredion highlights why sugar reduction is toughest in savory foods (it supports acidity, umami, texture and shelf life), pushing brands toward multi-sweetener systems. QSR & Drinks: McDonald’s reports beverage and chicken opportunities, with sales growth coming more from spending than traffic—while Shake Shack keeps traffic rising on promotions without turning its menu into a discount play. Canada Restaurant Openings: Jersey Mike’s opened in Peterborough, and Taco Bell debuted in Trenton. Food Safety Watch: Cyclosporiasis linked to Mexican lettuce keeps spreading in the U.S., with Iowa added to the CDC list—relevant for cross-border supply-chain vigilance. Food & Culture: Glory Juice Co. rebrands under new female ownership, positioning itself as functional wellness with in-house prepared, plant-based and gluten-free offerings.

Food Safety & Recalls: Chipotle pulled jalapeños across its U.S. chain after a Salmonella Javiana outbreak sickened at least 212 people, with the suspected lot identified quickly via its own traceability system. Produce & Parasites: U.S. cyclosporiasis deaths were reported in Michigan, tied to contaminated iceberg lettuce, keeping pressure on how produce is grown and imported. Canada Food Business Growth: Moose Jaw entrepreneur Adeola (Dee) Afolayan is expanding DeeBesties with ready-to-bake Nigerian-style meat pies now in Moose Jaw and Regina co-ops, ahead of a new downtown restaurant location. QSR Expansion: Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House is set to open its first Moose Jaw location Aug. 7. Trade & Alcohol: U.S. alcohol producers are pushing back on Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian beverage alcohol, warning it could backfire on their own cross-border sales. Packaging & Sustainability: Reusable Packaging Association returns to Pack Expo with a Reusable Packaging Pavilion and a new Next-Gen Reuse Corridor focused on reuse/refill for foodservice. M&A Watch (Food Industry): A family-owned M&A wave is paying big premiums for listed food brands, with deals like Intersnack’s Utz Brands buyout and Mars/Ferrero/WK Kellogg moves underscoring consolidation momentum.

Food Safety Update: Michigan reported the first U.S. deaths tied to a multi-state cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce, with Canadian officials also seeing increased cases. Sustainable Packaging: Reusable Packaging Association is bringing a big reusable packaging push to Pack Expo, including a new “Next-Gen Reuse Corridor” focused on reuse and refill for foodservice and consumer packaging. Produce Innovation: UBC researchers developed a seaweed-derived edible coating that can keep strawberries fresh for at least four days at room temperature, aiming to cut cold-storage reliance and food waste. Restaurant & Hospitality Growth: An internationally known chef is opening a new Pan-Asian chop house concept in the GTA, while Canada’s hotel dining scene gets a spotlight in a new OpenTable-style ranking. Industry Moves: Trimac acquired California Freight, a bulk food-grade logistics provider serving raw milk and food/ag companies. Franchise Watch: HTeaO appointed Brian Wise as CEO as it continues expanding its iced tea footprint.

Food Safety Watch: Michigan confirmed the first U.S. deaths tied to a Cyclospora outbreak, with health officials linking cases to contaminated iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms and reporting thousands of illnesses and hundreds of hospitalizations. Retail & Supply Chain: Spirit Airlines’ sudden shutdown is hitting airport-area businesses hard, with retailers in Detroit’s Evans Terminal reporting fewer customers and reduced foot traffic after the carrier’s exit. Hospitality & Growth: Jollibee keeps pushing North America, opening a new downtown San Francisco location (near BART) and expanding its U.S.-Canada network to 100+ stores while leaning on franchising. Local Food Culture: Montreal’s kosher restaurant Nöam was gutted by a fire under investigation as possible arson, adding to heightened concerns for the city’s Jewish community. Cannabis Policy: New Brunswick’s Cannabis NB is rolling out “Toonie Tuesdays” with $2 pre-rolled joints as part of its push against the black market. Canada-Linked Travel: A surge in Canadian demand is helping drive strong Cayman Islands tourism results, with record first-half stayover growth boosting restaurants and hospitality spending.

Food Safety Recall: Hershey Canada issued a Canada-wide recall of two Hershey’s Kisses varieties due to undeclared almonds, warning people with tree nut allergies not to eat or sell affected lots. Restaurant & Community: Halifax’s Bayers Road transit-priority project kicks off with two years of lane and sidewalk closures, putting pressure on nearby diners like Look Ho Ho Restaurant. Quick Service Buzz: Wendy’s is bringing back the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger after a fan vote, alongside new Apple Crumble Frosty Fusion and other pub-style items. Expansion Watch: Jollibee opened a new downtown San Francisco location, adding to its growing U.S. and Canada footprint. Industry & Logistics: Warehouse on Wheels released a procurement playbook for food and beverage operators, stressing pre-booked storage capacity to handle supplier and delivery disruptions. Local Culture: Gananoque’s Le FestivILES wrapped its fifth season with free music and francophone programming. Food & Health (Cross-border): A Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak has reported the first U.S. deaths linked to the parasite. Food & Beverage Business: Tilray reported fiscal 2026 revenue growth driven mainly by its distribution segment, even as the company remains unprofitable.

Montreal Kosher Restaurant Fire: Nöam, a popular kosher spot on Decarie Blvd, was gutted in an overnight blaze that police are investigating as arson; investigators say motive isn’t set yet and it’s not being treated as a hate crime at this stage, though social media and politicians are raising antisemitism concerns and U.S. officials are urging Canada to do more. U.S.-Canada Pressure on Antisemitism: A U.S. lawmaker and Canadian MPs voiced outrage and called for a hate-crime probe, as federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree flagged the incident as “extremely concerning.” Energy Drinks Policy Watch (Canada): A new report revisits Health Canada’s decision to drop energy-drink alcohol warning labels, reigniting debate over “wide-awake drunk” risks. Pet Food Growth: Toronto-based Open Farm says premium pet nutrition is holding up even as some shoppers cut discretionary spending, with the company eyeing its next growth phase. Travel Tech & Food Stops: Montreal-based FlightHub expands beyond flights into standalone hotel bookings, aiming to keep travellers in one ecosystem—good news for anyone planning food-focused trips. Tariffs Hit Food Economy: Commentary points to Trump’s new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods entering the U.S. as a direct pressure on Canada’s food supply chain and pricing.