AGP Executive Report

Tim Hortons Rollout: Tim Hortons is pushing hard on Canada’s coffee wars, with a national plan to renovate 400 locations and add 80 new restaurants—plus a fresh look focused on brighter spaces, faster layouts, and clearer digital pickup. Wine Strategy Push: A new Wine Growers Canada report (with Deloitte) argues the industry could add nearly $4B more annually if Ottawa and provinces align on a national wine strategy and cut interprovincial trade barriers—Niagara is flagged as a big winner. Local Openings & Expansion: St. Clairsville is set to get its first Thai restaurant as Thai Wok moves into a former Home Pizza spot, while Nanaimo welcomes east-coast favourite Blowers & Grafton for its first B.C. location. Food Safety Watch: Canada’s CFIA has issued multiple recalls this month, including Ghirardelli powdered hot cocoa mixes and Lufa microgreens, citing risks like Salmonella and E. coli. World Cup Hospitality: Ontario extends alcohol service to 4 a.m. during FIFA World Cup dates, and LCBO retail hours are also being expanded in select GTA/Ottawa locations.

Quick Hits for Canada: Tim Hortons Expansion: Restaurant Brands says it will open 80 new Tim Hortons locations in Canada by year-end and renovate 400 more, aiming at underserved communities as coffee and breakfast competition heats up. Food Security & Backyard Eggs: Nova Scotia is seeing a spike in backyard chicken-keeping as food prices rise and nearly 29% of residents face food insecurity. Poultry Investment: Sunrise Farms plans a US$73M poultry processing plant in Woodstock, Ont., targeting halal-certified demand and adding 100 jobs locally. Health & Alcohol: A new report in Addiction links alcohol to dozens of diseases, noting some harms may improve with reduced or no drinking. Packaging Tech Watch: A smart packaging market forecast projects growth to $38.6B by 2030, driven by demand for better product info and safety.

Tipping backlash: A new survey says 89% of Canadians think tipping is out of control, with people especially fed up when machines prompt gratuities at places that never used to—plus 67% want tipping abolished and 93% say they’re annoyed by tip screens. Local entrepreneurship: In Sault Ste. Marie, Nadine Robinson spotlights entrepreneur Rico Ianni-Palarchio as a “forks in the road” master of food-industry hustle and community impact. Hospitality jobs & tech: OpenTable is expanding in Canada with a new Toronto office (134 Peter St.), hiring for 200+ roles and positioning the city as a hub for product and restaurant marketing. Food innovation spotlight: Circana’s 2025 New Product Pacesetters report says beverages lead new launches, with winning products built around experience-led development. Community food culture: Grand Valley’s oldest building is being restored into OG 1870—planned as a breakfast diner, bakery and ice cream shop.

Toronto Hospitality Tech: OpenTable is locking in a bigger Canadian footprint with a multi-year lease for a new Toronto office at 134 Peter St, adding 24,000+ sq ft for sales, finance, marketing, customer service and engineering. World Cup Rules (Ontario): Ontario is giving travelling fans more certainty by extending licensed bar and restaurant alcohol service until 4 a.m. (June 11–July 19), plus select LCBO locations in the GTA and Ottawa getting longer hours. Menu Buzz: Tahini’s is rolling out its viral shawarma ramen nationwide starting June 1 at 73+ locations, but only for a limited time. Food Safety & Security: NDP and unions warn federal cuts at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency could weaken food safety and research capacity. Local Culture: Vancouver’s Chinatown Storytelling Centre opens its 4,000-sq-ft Learning Lab for hands-on history programming. Retail Pressure: Independent grocers say supplier fuel surcharges are hitting them harder as major chains push back on added fees.

World Cup Hospitality Push: Toronto’s LCBO is extending hours for select stores from June 11 to July 19, aligning with Ontario’s broader move to keep bars and restaurants open until 4 a.m. during the tournament. Viral Menu Expansion: Tahini’s is rolling out its viral shawarma ramen nationwide starting June 1, available for a limited time at 73+ locations. Food Retail Pressure: Independent grocers in Canada say fuel-related supplier surcharges are hitting them harder as major chains push back on added costs. Brand Marketing in Sports Mode: Labatt adapted Michelob Ultra’s global “The Superior Match” spot for Canada, swapping in Canadian striker Jonathan David. Public Health Policy: Quebec is considering banning energy drink sales to kids under 16, citing a case where caffeine plus ADHD medication was linked to a teen’s death. New Openings: A&W is launching a limited-time “Double Smash” burger experience in Canada.

Retail Media Push: 7‑Eleven is rolling out “Gulp Radio” to help CPG brands launch with in-store audio, citing an 8% sales lift for an energy drink flavor debut measured off real POS data. World Cup Alcohol Rules: Ontario is extending alcohol last call to 4 a.m. (June 11–July 19) and LCBO hours too, aiming to keep bars and restaurants serving late for visiting fans. Plant-Based Expansion: Michigan approved incentives for Fenton Food and Beverage (tied to Canada’s Ya‑Ya Foods) for a $56.2M plant-based milk facility, targeting at least 96 jobs. Travel & Food Links: Air Canada adds seasonal nonstop Toronto–Mérida starting Nov. 21, 2026. Local Hospitality Updates: Sooke Harbour House in B.C. announced new ownership and a refreshed culinary program, while a Toronto travel surge is being credited to the city’s neighborhood food culture. Beer Snapshot: IWSR expects global beer volumes to dip 1% in 2025, with premium and alcohol-free growth offsetting the decline.

World Cup Alcohol Push: Ontario is extending “last call” for licensed bars and restaurants to 4 a.m. during FIFA World Cup 2026 (June 11–July 19), with LCBO hours also expanded at select GTA and Ottawa stores. Brand + Retail Buzz: Starbucks rolled out a Miffy merchandise collection in U.S. and Canada, while Olive Garden is hiring in the GTA ahead of its Canadian launch. Food Industry Investment: A new $56.2M plant-based milk project in Michigan (YaYa Foods) is set to create at least 96 jobs, using a nut-and-water extraction approach. Safety + Disruption: Police detained an impaired-driving suspect after a vehicle crashed into a sushi restaurant in Nanaimo, injuring patrons. Sports Culture Meets Food/Drink: Guinness is reviving a 1990 ad for the World Cup, and fans are lining up for late-night viewing with the new Ontario booze hours. Quick hit: Starbucks also confirmed 300 U.S. corporate job cuts.

World Cup Alcohol Rules: Ontario is extending the last call for licensed bars and restaurants to 4 a.m. for FIFA World Cup 2026, running June 11 to July 19, with LCBO also adding extended hours at select GTA and Ottawa stores—aimed at boosting fan spending and supporting hospitality jobs. Digital Payments Push: Cash is getting squeezed out in Vancouver as more businesses and attractions stop accepting it, and the city plans to decommission its last coin parking meters—another sign of how restaurants and venues are going fully digital. Reputation Tech for Food Businesses: Delete Reviews UK is expanding into Canada with a Google review removal service, targeting fake or misleading reviews that can derail restaurants and other local operators. Food Safety Industry Pressure: CRB’s 2026 Horizons report says manufacturers are struggling with rising food-safety demands, workforce issues, and faster expectations for digital traceability. Canada Beverage Launch: Starmount debuts an all-natural adaptogenic energy drink built around lion’s mane and guarana.

AI & Water Debate: A Pocatello data-centre hearing is turning into a “what we make it become” fight, with the loudest concern being water use and whether “closed-loop” cooling really means no ongoing draw. Tourism & Airlift: Jamaica is pushing a big expansion plan—new routes and hotel investment—with Porter adding nonstop service from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton to Montego Bay. Foodservice Labour Pipeline: Canada’s $6B Red Seal push now explicitly includes cooks and bakers, aiming to recruit and train 80,000–100,000 skilled trades workers. Restaurant Economics: Montreal’s Ville-Marie is lowering terrace fees using a fixed per-square-metre rate, a move downtown businesses say could help summer margins. Burger Competition: Culver’s keeps gaining share in the U.S., growing system sales far faster than the average burger chain. Community Fundraising: A Langley-area legion is hosting music bingo to send a baton-twirling team to Alberta—tickets include food and drinks. Security Shock: A San Diego mosque shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, underscoring how public safety can suddenly dominate local life.

Patio-season buzz: OpenTable’s Canada Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in 2026 is already turning heads, with Collingwood’s Lakeside Seafood & Grill making the list as Canadians book outdoor tables in droves. Turnaround watch: Burger King’s “Reclaim the Flame” comeback—remodels, ops upgrades, and more focus on the Whopper—is framed as a long game, but leadership says results are starting to show. Sweetener R&D: Tate & Lyle is expanding its collaboration with BioHarvest Sciences to develop multiple plant-based sweetener molecules, aiming to broaden options across food and beverage categories. Alternative protein debate: A new Canadian survey suggests 44% of people are open to eating insects, with most preferring insect ingredients hidden in products like baked goods. World Cup hospitality angle: Toronto is set to host six World Cup games (including Canada’s first on June 12), putting sports bars and food spots on alert for a summer surge.

Patio season hits the big leagues: OpenTable’s Canada Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in 2026 is out, and Collingwood’s Lakeside Seafood & Grill made the cut—Ontario leads the list with 45 spots, while 74% of Canadians say they plan to eat outdoors at least once a month. Beer keeps its value, not its volume: IWSR says global beer volumes dipped in 2025, but value held up as Canadians and others trade up to premium and no/low-alcohol options—no-alcohol is growing fast and skewing “premium-plus.” Health watch—hantavirus case on a cruise: B.C. reports one Canadian isolating on Vancouver Island tested positive for the Andes strain after the MV Hondius outbreak; PHAC confirmed the result and says general risk remains low. Victoria Day retail reality check: Ontario stores can open on the holiday, but hours vary—so shoppers are being told to check before heading out. Local food & community: Sauble Beach businesses are gearing up for a warmer summer after a cold, wet spring, with Fierce Deer Jewelry among the new openings drawing attention.

Public Health: A Canadian couple isolating on Vancouver Island after returning from the hantavirus-affected cruise MV Hondius has tested positive for the Andes strain, with B.C. health officer Bonnie Henry saying the case was “planned for” after a quarantine that began with no symptoms. Local Food & Community: Nanaimo’s King of Hawaiian shirts owner is retiring, while a new Yolks breakfast/brunch spot is set to open in the city this summer. Tourism & Hospitality: Toronto is set to host six 2026 World Cup matches, and local bars/restaurants are navigating FIFA’s strict marketing rules—especially around using “FIFA” and “World Cup” in ads. Agri-Food Supply Chain: Western Canada’s wheat and barley breeding system is at an “inflection point,” with breeders, seed groups and Prairie universities outlining a shared vision for the next phase of cereal breeding. Retail/Quick Service: Dunkin’ is returning to Canada, signaling Tim Hortons’ coffee dominance is facing fresh pressure.

Prairie Crop Strategy: Western Canada’s wheat and barley breeding system is at an “inflection point,” with crop researchers, seed industry groups and Prairie universities teaming up to set a shared vision and guiding principles after a Winnipeg workshop. Toronto Patio Push: CaféTO is back for Victoria Day weekend, letting restaurants expand onto sidewalks and curbs—but some owners are still weighing the costs and logistics. Coffee Wars: Dunkin’ is returning to Canada, and the move is being framed as a direct challenge to Tim Hortons’ grip on the coffee market. Health Watch: A couple isolating on Vancouver Island after a hantavirus cruise test has one positive result for the Andes strain, raising fresh public-health attention. Food Culture Buzz: A new Eggslut Toronto launch is sparking debate over its $15 egg sandwich and ad campaign. Quick Hits: Tim Hortons’ donut lineup gets ranked (with some clear winners and losers), and Ontario’s Hard Rock Bet picks up an AGCO internet gaming license.

Ontario iGaming: Hard Rock Digital has secured an Ontario internet gaming operator license for its Hard Rock Bet platform (issued May 14, running to May 13, 2027), with details on launch timing still under wraps. Health & Pharma: AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan) won new U.S. FDA approvals for two HER2-positive early breast cancer indications—neoadjuvant and adjuvant. Food Culture & Travel: Toronto’s Union Summer returns for 63 days (June 8–Aug. 9) with 120+ free performances plus patio food from GTA spots. Local Dining Spotlight: Niagara’s Fat Rabbit is leaning into a zero-waste, whole-animal model and is already Michelin-recommended. Retail & Consumer: Spotify is raising Canadian Premium prices again in July, with increases of $1–$3/month depending on plan. Work & Youth Jobs: P.E.I. youth employment looks strong, but economists warn the “good times” may not last.

LCBO Beer Drop: Refined Fool’s Refined Fool IPA Fun Box is back for Victoria Day weekend at the LCBO, with six 473 ml cans led by Van Full of Weirdos and a lineup of hop-forward, quirky-named brews. Delivery App Fallout: A West Kelowna pizza owner says a viral “prank” escalated into a frightening in-store confrontation, raising questions about what’s fun vs. dangerous. Halal in Practice: A look at what halal certification really means for restaurants—more paperwork, audits, and recipe tweaks, but also credibility and access to bigger contracts. Tech + Food Adjacent: Tim Hortons quietly rolled out new “Soda Swirls” tied to the dirty soda trend, while Spotify’s Canada premium prices jump again in July—another reminder that budgets are getting squeezed. Alcohol Demand Softening: Beer and alcohol sales are down as affordability pressure pushes Canadians to cut back.

McHappy Day Canada: McDonald’s Canada says this year’s McHappy Day (May 6) raised $10.8M+ for Ronald McDonald House Canada and local children’s charities, continuing a campaign that’s now topped $122.1M since it began. FIFA World Cup travel buzz: Old Montreal is rolling out Grand Prix programming across more than 20 restaurants and venues (May 21–24) as the city gears up for the race weekend. Food & drink retail shake-ups: Dunkin’ is set to return to Canada via a Foodtastic deal, with plans for hundreds of locations—a direct challenge to Tim Hortons’ dominance. Sustainability in schools: The Carton Council opened applications for its 2026 School Carton Recycling Grant (US & Canada), funding K–12 programs to boost recycling of milk/juice cartons. Health & environment: A new report spotlights microplastics from packaging—including bottles—arguing food and drink are a major exposure route.