Mississauga drops Paramount Fine Foods from venue name over payments issue

Mohamad Fakih, founder and CEO, claimed that it was Paramount's decision to end the sponsorship

Published May 26, 2026  •  Last updated 13 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

The City of Mississauga is renaming the Paramount Fine Foods Centre after it claimed the chain failed to make payments. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /Postmedia Network

Mississauga is dropping the name of Paramount Fine Foods from its major sports and entertainment venue after the city alleges the chain failed to make payments.

Article content

City officials said in a press release Tuesday that the complex on Rose Cherry Place will no longer bear the name Paramount Fine Foods Centre. Starting June 1, it will be called the Mississauga Sports and Entertainment Centre until a new partner is found.

Article content

Article content

Officials noted that the renaming won’t change any events scheduled at the venue, formerly the Hershey Centre, which is also home to the Raptors 905 team.

Paramount is losing the naming rights and concession agreement over “lack of payment,” according to the city, and the municipality is considering legal options against the chain.

“The city unilaterally terminated the contract with Paramount Fine Foods for lack of payment and is in the process of considering its legal options for remedy,” officials said in the release, adding the city is “working directly with tenants, sports organizations, partners and event organizers to ensure a seamless transition.”

Mohamad Fakih, CEO of Paramount Fine Foods. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Toronto Sun

What owner Mohamad Fakih said

Mohamad Fakih, founder and CEO of the Middle Eastern food chain, took to social media to respond to the city’s claims.

Article content

In a video posted on Instagram, Fakih claimed that it was Paramount’s decision to end the sponsorship, adding that the chain remains committed to the city and plans to have new initiatives.

“After more than a decade, we’ve made the decision to conclude our sponsorship and redirect our community investment toward new initiatives,” Fakih said.

“While our name may no longer be on the building, our commitment to Mississauga remains as strong as ever. We look forward to continuing to invest in our community and sharing new initiatives in the months ahead.”

Fakih has been vocal on social media

Fakih, an Order of Canada member since 2022, has drawn criticism over the past year for virulent and persistent social media posts against Israel and those who support it.

“On behalf of literally every Canadian of conscience: If you are a Canadian and a supporter of Israel, you do not have basic human values, let alone Canadian values. Your tweets and messages are saved and known to all of us. They live,” Fakih posted on X last August. The post was one of regular ones that consistently excoriate Israel for its response to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre of Jews and its war against that terror group and Hezbollah.

The backlash against Fakih’s comments sparked a nationwide petition to remove him from the Order of Canada that included high-profile politicians Roman Baber, Kevin Vuong, Lisa MacLeod and Selina Robinson.

“To suggest that anyone who is a supporter of Israel lacks human values is dehumanizing,” Baber told the Toronto Sun. “And to suggest that someone’s identities are being saved and recorded would reasonably be construed as threatening. This is conduct unbecoming of someone called to the Order of Canada.”

Article content