MONTREAL, May 12, 2026 – Foodtastic, one of Canada’s leading restaurant operators, today announced it has signed a master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to open hundreds of Dunkin’ locations across Canada.

Under the new agreement, Foodtastic will have exclusive rights to develop the Dunkin’ brand nationally through both corporate and franchise-operated locations. This expansion strengthens Foodtastic’s relationship with Inspire Brands and adds a globally recognized coffee and donut concept to its Canadian portfolio.

“Bringing Dunkin’ back to Canada is a significant growth opportunity for Foodtastic and our franchise partners across the country,” said Peter Mammas, Foodtastic Founder and CEO. “This agreement demonstrates the strength of our relationship with Inspire Brands and the confidence we have built together through our work with Jimmy John’s in Canada. We are committed to growing the Dunkin’ brand thoughtfully to meet the needs of Canadian guests and communities.”

The first Dunkin’ location in Canada is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. Foodtastic will manage market development, franchisee recruitment, and operations in Canada. The menu will feature a wide range of hot and iced coffees, espresso beverages, teas, donuts, sandwiches, and snacks.

“Dunkin’s international footprint continues to thrive, so we are excited to bring this iconic brand to Canada through a strong, like-minded partner,” said Michael Haley, President of International at Inspire Brands. “Foodtastic has a proven track record of successfully growing leading restaurant brands, already established with their early progress growing Jimmy John’s. We value the shared commitment, operational expertise, and long-term vision they bring to this partnership.”

This agreement further strengthens the partnership between the two companies and reinforces Foodtastic’s role as a Canadian growth partner for global restaurant brands.

For over 75 years, Dunkin' has been a global leader in coffee and donuts, with more than 14,200 restaurants in nearly 40 markets. Details on the first Canadian location, market rollout, and franchise opportunities will be shared as development progresses. For franchising inquiries and more information on Dunkin’s expansion in Canada, visit foodtastic.ca/dunkin.

CAROL STREAM, IL – March 30, 2026 – Cornelius, a global leader in beverage dispensing solutions, today announced the launch of ACSD (Automatic Crew-Serve Dispenser), a fully automated beverage system designed for quick service restaurant (QSR) drive-thru and counter operations.

The launch reflects industry momentum toward automation and standardized execution. As drive-thru traffic continues to drive QSR revenue, even seconds saved per order can deliver a meaningful financial impact.

Designed to streamline workflows, ACSD automates the entire beverage build sequence—from order receipt through cup drop, ice dispense, beverage pour, and staging—resulting in faster service, improved accuracy, and reduced crew workload. Built for national and regional brands, ACSD reduces time per serve by up to 34 seconds.

Solving a Growing Operational Strain

QSR operators continue to face labor shortages, margin pressure, and rising expectations for speed and consistency. While kitchens have evolved, many beverage stations remain highly manual, often creating bottlenecks during peak periods.

A Fully Automated Beverage Workflow

ACSD integrates directly with POS systems, eliminating manual input during normal operation.

Among ACSD’s capabilities:

• Drops the correct cup
• Fast, accurate ice dispense
• Pours selected beverages, including flavor shots
• Automatically tops off carbonated drinks
• Transports and stages drinks in clear, sequential positions

Built-in visual order identification reduces confusion and rework. The system supports up to 16 syrups from a single nozzle and offers automatic, semi-automatic, and manual modes for operational flexibility.

ACSD is designed to support crews—not replace them—by standardizing production, simplifying training, and enabling staff to focus on higher-value, guest-facing tasks.

Measurable Impact for Operators

In real-world use, ACSD has demonstrated up to 34 seconds faster drive-thru service, potentially delivering:

• 12+ additional cars per day during peak periods
• 12–18 month payback (depending on volume)
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Greater order accuracy

ACSD is built for scalability and ease of maintenance, sharing approximately 60% of its parts with existing Cornelius equipment and including a two-year parts and labor warranty. It is commercially available today, with pilots across multiple QSR brands.

Operator Validation

“ACSD didn’t replace our workflow—it supported it,” said Erick Von Merveldt, VP of Training and Innovation, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers. “What once required two crew members now takes one, with less effort. That extra capacity goes right back into supporting the kitchen and giving our guests the kind of service they expect.”

A Big Step Forward in QSR Automation

“ACSD represents a shift to fully orchestrated beverage automation,” said Zach Dresser, Director of Product Management for Cornelius. “It integrates with existing POS systems and delivers speed and consistency without requiring store redesign.”

ACSD is available for deployment beginning Q2 2026, with pilot and multi-unit rollout programs currently open.

The Government of Manitoba introduced its budget implementation legislation that, if passed, will implement a PST exemption for prepared foods sold in grocery and convenience stores, while continuing to apply the tax to the same products sold by restaurants.

This remains a fundamentally unfair approach that continues to exclude restaurants.

Since this measure was first announced in the March Budget, Restaurants Canada has been actively and consistently pushing back. We have been clear: we cannot accept a policy that puts restaurants at a structural disadvantage to their competitors.

What we’ve done

We have taken a coordinated approach to advocate for change:

• Direct government engagement: We met with Finance Minister Adrien Sala to make a clear and direct case for including restaurants and have continued discussions with his senior officials. Kelly Higginson has written to both Minister Sala and Premier Wab Kinew, calling on the government to amend the legislation and include restaurants, and we have requested a meeting with the Premier.
• Broader cabinet outreach: We have also engaged the ministers responsible for tourism and labour to ensure the broader economic and workforce impacts are understood.
• Broader political outreach: We have engaged Opposition Leader Obby Khan and all MLAs to raise our concerns and increase pressure on the government.
• Public advocacy: We have been active in the media, including an op-ed by Kelly Higginson in the Winnipeg Free Press, reinforcing our message publicly, and we intend to remain active in the media.

Our Message

Our message has been consistent and clear: the government must amend its approach to deliver fairness.

• As currently designed, this measure does not operate as a neutral affordability policy.
• This is not a tax cut on food—it is a tax shift between competitors that creates winners and losers.
• It provides relief only if consumers change where they purchase their food, even when the product is identical.
• Differential tax treatment changes consumer behaviour and will shift demand away from restaurants
• Restaurants are significantly more labour-intensive than grocery retail, meaning this policy puts jobs at risk
• The approach undermines affordability, particularly for lower-income Manitobans who spend a greater share of their income on restaurant meals

What you can do

Your voice is critical.

We encourage you to contact your local MLA, Premier Kinew, and Finance Minister Adrien Sala to share how this policy will impact your business, your employees, and your community.

The global economy is rapidly changing, and many Canadians are feeling the effects at home—including workers and young people looking for jobs in a challenging job market. In response, the Government of Canada is focused on what it can control: creating good jobs for people across Canada to gain meaningful work experience that will set them on a path to a successful future.

In Budget 2025, we outlined our plan to build Canada strong. Since then, we have moved fast to build the major infrastructure, homes, and industries that grow Canada’s economy and create lasting prosperity; empower Canadians with better careers and a more affordable life; and protect our communities, our borders, and our way of life. 

We delivered concrete savings for Canadians while supporting key national priorities and keeping investments focused on results. We are maintaining a strong fiscal position, with Spring Economic Update 2026 showing that projected deficits are lower over the fiscal horizon and that we are on track to meet our fiscal anchors.  

Spring Economic Update 2026 is the next step in our plan to build Canada strong for all. It provides a clear update on the strength of Canada’s economy, giving Canadians confidence in our plan. It delivers targeted relief to make life more affordable, support workers, and accelerate the construction of homes and major infrastructure. It also strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and economic growth while investing in strong, safe communities across the country.  

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, met with the Marshall School of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship at the Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, to highlight key investments from the Spring Economic Update to build trades and support Canada’s young people.

Canada’s future depends on the people building it. That’s why Spring Economic Update 2026 is proposing measures to help workers and young people gain the skills, experience, and support they need to succeed. 

We’re making it easier to learn, train, and find meaningful opportunities by:

• Creating new opportunities for young Canadians: Launching Team Canada Strong, the new $6 billion nationwide effort to recruit, train, and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal skilled trades workers in the next five years, aligning with Canada’s housing, infrastructure, and defence needs. This measure will help:Making education more affordable: Extending for the 2026–27 academic year the increases to Canada Student Grants and interest-free Canada Student Loans—571,000 students are expected to benefit from the increase to non-repayable grants, and 422,000 students could benefit from the weekly loan limit increase. 
  • Recruit:
    • We will deploy $2 billion to support young Canadians with paid, job-ready placements that lead directly into registered apprenticeships.
    • This investment will also support the launch of the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service to provide up to $10,000 for an apprentice’s first-year salary, match apprentices to job opportunities, and offer direct navigation and support to help employers hire, train, and retain apprentices.
  • Train: 
    • We will boost and modernize apprenticeship training to expedite Red Seal certification with $331 million in funding over five years, starting in 2026–27, and $18 million ongoing.
    • We will digitize the Red Seal Program, introducing online exams, digital logbooks, and secure credentials to reduce certification timelines, including by creating a single national registered apprenticeship number.
    • We will expand the Union Training and Innovation Program to enable union-run training centres to upgrade facilities, expand capacity and invest in modern equipment.
  • Hire: 
    • We will provide $3.4 billion over five years, starting in 2026–27, and $468 million ongoing to address the challenges that can stop apprentices from completing their training and moving into permanent jobs.
    • We will offer a one-time $5,000 apprenticeship completion bonus to those who obtain certification in a Red Seal trade.
    • With the Apprenticeship Training Grant, we will provide a $400 weekly top-up while apprentices attend mandatory in-class technical training.
    • This represents a total payment of up to $16,000 per apprentice, paid in addition to Employment Insurance.

For those already in the workforce, we’re making it easier to find meaningful opportunities:

• Helping tradespeople go where the work is: Enhancing the Labour Mobility Deduction will make it more affordable for skilled workers to travel to where jobs are available.
• Encouraging shared ownership: Making the Employee Ownership Trust tax exemption permanent will help more workers share in the success of the businesses they help build.

As part of Budget 2025, young Canadians are gaining opportunities to work and build careers, with 175,000 placements supported in 2026–27 through Canada Summer Jobs, the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, and the Student Work Placement Program.

The Government of Canada is transforming our economy from reliance to resilience. Spring Economic Update 2026 ensures all Canadians can participate in building Canada strong and share in its success.