Shopper Reference Guide
Consumers have been asking questions about the origins of products, owners of restaurants, franchises, and more. So, we thought we'd start to pull together some of that information for you. Hope it helps in whatever decisions you're making.
Fast Food & Restaurant Ownership Origins
A table of fast food and dine-in restaurants that shows their parent company and country of ownership with additional notes.| Tim Hortons | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | Formerly Cara Operations. |
| Harvey’s | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| Swiss Chalet | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| Boston Pizza | Canada | Boston Pizza | Founded and operated, with headquarters in Richmond, BC. |
| St-Hubert | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | Originally independent but now owned by Recipe Unlimited (Canadian) |
| Mary Brown’s | Canada | Mary Brown's | 100% Canadian-owned and operated. |
| Chuck's | Canada | Obsidian Group Inc | |
| New York Fries | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| Mr. Sub | Canada | MTY Food Group | |
| Beaver Tails | Canada | Beaver Tails | |
| Second Cup | Canada | Foodtastic | |
| Country Style | Canada | MTY Food Group | |
| Kelsey's | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| The Keg | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| Montana’s BBQ | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| East Side Mario's | Canada | Recipe Unlimited | |
| Cactus Club | Canada | Cactus Club Cafe | Founded in BC and still Canadian-controlled. |
| Moxies | Canada | Northland Properties | A Canadian brand, owned by Northland Properties (same as Denny’s Canada). |
| Earls Kitchen + Bar | Canada | Earl's Kitchen +Bar | A Vancouver-based, privately owned Canadian company. |
| Jack Astor's | Canada | Service Inspired Restaurants (SIR Corp) | |
| Pizza Pizza | Canada | Pizza Pizza | A Canadian brand but has expanded internationally with some franchise agreements. |
| A&W Canada | Mixed | A&W Canada | While separate from A&W in the U.S., it is a franchise system, meaning it pays royalties to the American parent but operates independently. |
| Burger King | MIXED | Restaurant Brands International (RBI) | Owned by Restaurant Brands International (RBI), but RBI is mostly controlled by Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital |
| Panera Bread | MIXED | JAB Holding Company | Owned by JAB Holding Company (USA-based, but owned by a German firm) |
| Krispy Kreme | MIXED | JAB Holding Company | JAB Holding Company (USA-based, but owned by a German firm) |
| Red Lobster | Thailand | Thai Union Group (Thailand) | Previously owned by Darden Restaurants, now owned by Thai Union Group (Thailand) |
| McDonad's | USA | McDonald's Corporation USA | |
| Wendy's | USA | The Wendy’s Company USA | |
| KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken | USA | Yum! Brands (USA) | |
| Popeyes | USA | Restaurant Brands International (RBI) | |
| Chick-fil-A | USA | Chick-fil-A, Inc. (USA) | |
| Five Guys | USA | Five Guys Enterprises (USA) | |
| Domino's Pizza | USA | Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (USA) | |
| Pizza Hut | USA | Yum! Brands (USA) | |
| Little Caesars | USA | Little Caesars Enterprises (USA) | |
| Subway | USA | Roark Capital Group (USA) | |
| Taco Bell | USA | Yum! Brands (USA) | |
| Chipole | USA | Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (USA) | |
| Jimmy John's | USA | Inspire Brands (USA) | |
| Starbucks Canada | USA | Starbucks Corporation (USA) | |
| Dunkin' | USA | Inspire Brands (USA) | Previously in Canada but now mostly left; owned by Inspire Brands (USA) |
| Dairy Queen | USA | Berkshire Hathaway (USA) | |
| Arby's | USA | Inspire Brands (USA) | |
| Applebee's | USA | Dine Brands Global (USA) | |
| Olive Garden | USA | Darden Restaurants (USA) | |
| TGI Fridays | USA | TriArtisan Capital Advisors (USA) | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | USA | Inspire Brands (USA) | |
| Outback Steakhouse | USA | Bloomin’ Brands (USA) | |
| Hooters | USA | Nord Bay Capital & TriArtisan Capital Advisors (USA) | |
| The Cheesecake Factory | USA | The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (USA) |
Dairy & Eggs
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Cheddar Cheese | Armstrong, Black River | Canadian-made cheddar cheeses. |
| Brie Cheese | Fromagerie du Presbytère | Artisan brie, made in Canada. |
| Cream Cheese | Philadelphia (Kraft - USA) | U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Cottage Cheese | Saputo, Natrel | 100% Canadian cottage cheese. |
| Ice Cream Toppings | Smucker's Canada (USA) | U.S.-owned, produced in Canada. |
| Eggs | Burnbrae Farms, B.C. Egg Producers | Canadian egg brands. |
| Butter Milk | Gay Lea Foods | 100% Canadian-made. |
| Whipped Cream | Gay Lea, Dairyland | Canadian brands. |
| Feta Cheese | Ontario Sheep Dairy, Yves Veggie | 100% Canadian. |
| Almond Milk | Earth’s Own, Silk (USA) | Earth’s Own is Canadian; Silk is U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Frozen Yogurt | Yogen Früz | 100% Canadian frozen yogurt brand. |
Meat & Poultry
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Pork | Olymel, Maple Leaf Foods | Canadian pork producers. |
| Lamb | Ontario Lamb Producers, Mountain View | 100% Canadian lamb. |
| Turkey | Maple Leaf, Butterball (USA) | Butterball is U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Veal | Ontario Veal Farmers, Cargill (USA) | Cargill is U.S.-owned but produces veal in Canada. |
| Duck | Ontario Duck Producers, Canards du Lac Brome | 100% Canadian duck. |
| Ham | Schneiders, Maple Leaf Foods | Canadian ham brands. |
| Hot Dogs | Schneiders, Maple Leaf Foods | Canadian-made hot dogs. |
| Meatballs | M&M Food Market, Spolumbo’s | 100% Canadian brands. |
| Salami | Freybe, Harv’s (Alberta) | 100% Canadian-made salami. |
| Roast Beef | Country Style, Oscar Meyer (USA) | Oscar Meyer is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
Grains & Pasta
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Pasta | Catelli, Italpasta | 100% Canadian pasta brands. |
| Rice | Dainty Foods, Tilda (UK) | Tilda is U.K.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Oats | Quaker (PepsiCo - USA), Bob’s Red Mill (USA) | Quaker is U.S.-owned, Bob's is U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Breakfast Cereal | Kellogg's (USA), Nature’s Path | Kellogg's is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. Nature's Path is Canadian. |
| Flour | Robin Hood (Ardent Mills - USA), Five Roses (Smucker’s - USA) | Both are U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Bread Crumbs | Progresso (USA), Canadian brands | Progresso is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Quinoa | Canadian Quinoa Company, Ancient Harvest | Canadian-grown quinoa. |
| Cornmeal | Robin Hood, Quaker (USA) | Quaker is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Rice Noodles | Thai Kitchen (Canada), Blue Dragon | Blue Dragon is Canadian but made in Canada. |
| Polenta | Olivieri, Catelli | 100% Canadian-made polenta brands |
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Frozen Foods
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Frozen Pizza | Dr. Oetker (Germany) | German-owned but made in Canada. |
| Frozen Vegetables | McCain Foods, Arctic Gardens | Canadian frozen vegetable brands. |
| Frozen French Fries | McCain Foods, Cavendish Farms | Canadian frozen fries. |
| Frozen Meals | M&M Food Market, Stouffer's (USA) | Stouffer’s is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Frozen Fish | High Liner Foods, Ocean Brands | Canadian brands, with some imports. |
| Frozen Fruit | Dole (USA), SunRype | Dole is U.S.-owned but produces in Canada. |
| Frozen Chicken Wings | Maple Leaf Foods, Foster Farms (USA) | Foster Farms is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Frozen Burritos | Amy’s Kitchen (USA), M&M Food Market | Amy's Kitchen is U.S.-owned but produces in Canada. |
| Frozen Tater Tots | Ore-Ida (USA), McCain Foods | Ore-Ida is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Frozen Vegetables | Green Giant (USA), Arctic Gardens | Green Giant is U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
Canned Goods
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Canned Beans | Aylmer, Unico | 100% Canadian canned beans. |
| Tomato Paste | Heinz (USA), Unico | Heinz is U.S.-owned but produces in Canada. |
| Canned Vegetables | Bonduelle Canada (France) | French-owned, produced in Canada. |
| Baked Beans | Campbell's (USA), Bush's (USA) | U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Pickles | Vlasic (USA), Kraft Canada | U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Canned Fish | Clover Leaf (Canada), Bumble Bee (USA) | Bumble Bee is U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |
| Canned Fruit | Del Monte Canada, Aylmer | 100% Canadian brands. |
| Tomato Sauce | Hunt's (USA), Unico | U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Olives | Spanish Olives, Ontario Olives | Imported from Spain and Canadian olive brands. |
| Relish | French’s (USA), Kraft Canada | French's is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
Snacks & Sweets
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Chocolates | Purdys, Laura Secord | 100% Canadian chocolate brands. |
| Candy Bars | Maynards, Cadbury (Mondelez - USA) | Mondelez is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Chewing Gum | Wrigley (Mars - USA) | U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Popcorn | Kernel's, Old Dutch | Canadian-made popcorn. |
| Potato Chips | Hardbite, Old Dutch | Canadian-made potato chips. |
| Trail Mix | Nature’s Path, NutraSea | 100% Canadian brands. |
| Cookies | Dare (Canada), Oreo (USA) | Oreo is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Marshmallows | Campfire, Kraft (USA) | U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Candies | Ganong, Hall’s | 100% Canadian candy brands. |
| Ice Cream Bars | Chapman's, Nestlé (Switzerland) | Nestlé is Swiss-owned, but produces ice cream bars in Canada. |
Condiments & Sauces
Note: Foreign ownership or production in Canada where applicable, making it clear where products are produced in Canada but may be owned overseas.| Ketchup | French’s (McCormick - USA) | U.S.-owned but made with Canadian tomatoes. |
| Mustard | Kozlik's, Maille (USA) | Maille is French-owned but made in Canada. |
| BBQ Sauce | Sweet Baby Ray’s (USA), Kraft Canada | Sweet Baby Ray’s is U.S.-owned, produced in Canada. |
| Soy Sauce | Kikkoman (Japan), Lee Kum Kee (Canada) | Kikkoman is Japanese-owned but made in Canada. |
| Hot Sauce | Frank's RedHot (USA), Sriracha (Canada) | Frank's is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Mayonnaise | Hellmann’s (Unilever - UK), Kraft Canada | Hellmann’s is U.K.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Salad Dressing | Kraft Canada, Hidden Valley (USA) | Hidden Valley is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Peanut Butter | Kraft Canada, Skippy (USA) | Skippy is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Chili Sauce | Heinz (USA), Unico | Heinz is U.S.-owned but made in Canada. |
| Worcestershire Sauce | Lea & Perrins (USA), Crosse & Blackwell | U.S.-owned but produced in Canada. |