MONTREAL/EDMONTON, February 19, 2026 – Foodtastic acquires Central Social Hall, a Canadian premium casual dining and social hall brand known for its chef-driven menus, curated drinks, and community-focused hospitality. The move supports Foodtastic’s strategy of adding strong Canadian brands to its portfolio of banners and expanding into dining concepts that cater to both everyday occasions and social gatherings.

Founded in 2012 by Jerry Rota and Jesse Kupina, Central Social Hall has enjoyed tremendous success through its focus on premium casual dining, social hospitality, and a strong sense of community. Guests enjoy scratch-made, chef-driven menus, curated drinks, friendly service, and a lively atmosphere.

“Central Social Hall is a strong all-Canadian brand with a clear identity and a faithful guest base,” said Peter Mammas, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Foodtastic. “Its unique positioning in the casual dining sector fits well with our approach to diversify and strengthen our portfolio with concepts that engage today’s guests. Central fills an important niche by offering a hybrid dining experience that appeals to both the casual diner and those craving a more refined atmosphere. We are looking forward to growing this great brand in Canada.”

With two Edmonton locations, the brand has built a loyal following by serving elevated yet approachable cuisine and curated drinks, while creating vibrant spaces that encourage real social connections in every community. Casual dining and social halls are a key focus for Foodtastic as more guests look for places that combine great food with social experiences.

“From day one, Central was built to be a place where people can gather to celebrate around a high-quality meal and atmosphere and create lasting memories,” said Andrea Schlingmann, Brand Leader at Central Social Hall. “Foodtastic will provide Central with the infrastructure and scale to grow thoughtfully, while maintaining the culture, hospitality, and sense of community that are so important to us.”

The company plans to expand the brand beyond Edmonton through a staged rollout in Alberta and other Canadian provinces over the next few years.

For more information, visit and .

North Vancouver, February 18, 2026 – Il Corvo (1052 Deep Cove Road) is setting the table for a new weekend ritual in Deep Cove. Expanding beyond its popular dinner service, the new casual Italian restaurant has officially launched brunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, inviting the community to gather over good company and a menu that features classic brunch favourites, pizzas, Italian street-style sandwiches, and so more.

“Brunch was always in the plans when we first opened Il Corvo, and we’re thankful for the neighbourhood’s amazing support thus far,” says Stacie Watson, who operates the restaurant alongside her husband, Michael Watson. “Our take on brunch follows our love for having family meals in Nonna’s dining nook. It’s a very familiar and comforting feeling. We wanted to honour that warmth, while also creating a menu that feels exciting and a little different.”

Created by head chef Tyler Thompson, the brunch menu blends classic brunch staples with distinctly Italian ingredients, including a full Uova Benedict section, featuring four bennies, such as Mortadella (cornetto, scamorza, mortadella, poached egg, and hollandaise) and Braddato al Borolo (cornetto, braised beef, poached egg, hollandaise, and chive).

Alongside the classics, Il Corvo signature brunch dishes reflect Italian street food culture. Highlights include:

• Brunch Pizzas, where breakfast flavours meet Italian ingredients, such as the Uova e Pancetta with fonduta, fior di latte, roast potato, pancetta, egg, and chive.
• Panuozzo, Italian street-style sandwiches made with pizza dough. Examples include Il Fuoco del Sud with capocollo, arugula, ‘nduja cream, and roast zucchini; and Rosso e Nero with calabrese salami, genoa salami, arugula, pecorino cream, and roast eggplant.
• Pane Fritto, Il Corvo’s take on French toast, with two flavours: Nocciola with nutella, whipped mascarpone, shaved chocolate, and roast hazelnut; and Fragole e Panna with strawberry gel, whipped mascarpone, and prosecco macerated strawberries.

“We wanted brunch to be distinctly Il Corvo and also something you could return to every weekend,” adds Thompson. “It is relaxed and approachable and designed in a way where there is something for everyone, including the bambini.”

Brunch at Il Corvo is served on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made . Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, please visit .

Vancouver, B.C., February 17, 2026 - , a hospitality-driven specialty coffee company in Canada, has been selected as one of the at No.15 – earning international recognition for a brand that began as a single café in Gastown in 2017 and is known for its pursuit of ‘coffee creating culture’. Today, Nemesis operates five locations across British Columbia, along with a standalone home for its popular pastry brand, .

“We are so proud and humbled to be named one of the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops,” says Jess Reno, founder and CEO of Nemesis. “This year, we got word we were nominated for the Top 100 list. I’ll be honest. Sometimes when things like this happen, we tend to brush past them — like we didn’t earn it. Then I look at our team, and the standard we’re trying to hold. The care. The effort. The way people show up every day.”

The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is a global recognition platform celebrating excellence in specialty coffee and café culture. It’s rankings are determined through a weighted evaluation model that combines public participation and professional assessment: 30 per cent of the score comes from community voting and 70 per cent from an international panel of more than 800 coffee and gastronomy professionals. Coffee shops are evaluated on coffee quality, barista experience and technique, sustainability practices, customer service, space design and atmosphere, food and pastry quality, innovation capacity, and service consistency.

Reno explains, “To us, what matters most is that nine years ago, we opened a small door in Gastown, and it grew into something far bigger than we ever imagined. Along the way, more people found their way into that space, and this work began to mean something deeper. We’ve heard countless stories of people meeting their partners here, finding community during difficult seasons, building friendships, and feeling more connected to the city. Being named one of the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is an honour, but what truly matters is the community behind it and everyone who believed in us, and continues to make Nemesis what it is.”

This special recognition coincides with Nemesis’s ninth birthday, which was just on February 14, 2026. “It feels poetic in a way. A little sweet and a little serendipitous…that this ceremony kicks off on Valentine’s Day. Our birthday. Thank you, everyone,” adds Reno.

Since 2017, Nemesis has built a reputation for its community-centred locations, acting as catalysts for creators and dreamers, through its inviting space, dynamic music, excellent coffee, pastries, and elevated brunch. Guests can explore Nemesis locations in Vancouver (Gastown, Great Northern Way), North Vancouver (Polygon), Surrey (Pavilion), and Coquitlam (TriCity).

For more information about Nemesis, please visit

Brossard, Quebec, February 16, 2026 – Nortera, a North American leader in frozen and canned vegetables, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gabrielle Fallu to the position of Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations.

In this new strategic role, Gabrielle will be responsible for external communications and strengthening relationships with government bodies and industry partners. The creation of this key position reflects Nortera's commitment to consolidating its leadership within the agrifood landscape to support local production and food sovereignty in Canada.

Drawing on her background in political science and journalism, Gabrielle Fallu combines strategic vision, communication rigor, and a deep understanding of public and media issues. Before joining Nortera, she spent nearly seven years at Exceldor Cooperative where she managed public and government relations in addition to serving on several strategic industry committees.

Her expertise is also built on a solid foundation from her experience in public and media spaces. Notably, she served as a press attaché and strategic advisor with several ministers in the Quebec government . Prior to that, Gabrielle began her career as a journalist for RNC Media and Bell Media. This unique career path provides her with a keen news sense and a sophisticated command of media relations.

Nortera is delighted to welcome Gabrielle to the team. Aligned with our priorities, she will leverage her expertise and extensive network to help advance the organization’s vision while strengthening our relationships with our partners.