Tim Hortons facts for kids
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Tim Hortons in Vancouver
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Formerly
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Tim Horton Donuts Tim Donuts Limited The TDL Group |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | May 17, 1964 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
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| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Number of locations
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5,701 restaurants (September 30, 2023) |
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Areas served
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List
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Key people
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J. Patrick Doyle (Executive Chairman, RBI) Joshua Kobza (CEO, RBI) Axel Schwan (President, Tim Hortons Canada & U.S.) |
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| Revenue |  US$7.245 billion (2023) |
| US$ 958 million (2023) |
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| Total assets | US$ 13.99 billion (2021) |
| Parent | Wendy's (1995–2006) Restaurant Brands International (2014–present) |
Tim Hortons Inc., often called "Tim's," "Timmies," or "Timmy's," is a huge restaurant chain from Canada. Its main office is in Toronto. It is famous for its coffee, donuts, sandwiches, and other quick meals. Tim Hortons is Canada's biggest quick-service restaurant chain. As of September 2023, it has 5,701 restaurants in 13 countries around the world.
The company was started in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by a Canadian ice hockey player named Tim Horton (1930–1974) and Jim Charade (1934–2009). Tim Horton first tried opening hamburger restaurants. In 1967, Horton teamed up with an investor named Ron Joyce. After Horton sadly passed away in 1974, Joyce took over the business. He helped the chain grow into a huge, multi-billion dollar company.
Later, on August 26, 2014, Burger King agreed to join with Tim Hortons. This big deal was worth US$11.4 billion. The two chains then became part of a new company called Restaurant Brands International (RBI) on December 15, 2014. RBI is based in Toronto.
Contents
The Story of Tim Hortons
How Tim Hortons Began (1964–1989)
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The business was started by Tim Horton, a famous hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1949 until he died in a car crash in 1974. The very first Tim Horton restaurant was in North Bay, Ontario, and it sold hamburgers.
The first donut shop opened on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario. It was called Tim Horton Donuts. Over time, the name became "Tim Horton's" and then "Tim Hortons," without the apostrophe.
Soon after Tim Horton opened his shop, he met Ron Joyce. Ron was a former police officer in Hamilton. In 1965, Joyce took over the small Tim Horton Donut Shop. By 1967, after opening two more stores, Tim Horton and Ron Joyce became full business partners.
When Tim Horton died in 1974, Ron Joyce bought his family's share of the business for $1 million. Joyce became the only owner of the 40 stores that existed then. He quickly made the chain much bigger, adding more locations and new food items. The 500th Tim Hortons store opened in 1991.
Ron Joyce's fast growth of the business changed the coffee and donut market in Canada a lot. Many small, independent donut shops closed down. Canada ended up having more donut shops per person than any other country!
Changes and Growth (1990–2002)
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The company was first officially named Tim Donut Limited. By the 1990s, its name changed to The TDL Group Ltd. This change was made so the company could sell more than just donuts. They wanted to add more food options as people's tastes changed.
Some older Tim Hortons signs still have an apostrophe in the name. However, the official name has been "Tim Hortons" without an apostrophe for many years. The company removed the apostrophe around 1993. This was done because signs with apostrophes were seen by some as breaking the language laws in Quebec. Removing the apostrophe allowed the company to use the same sign everywhere in Canada.
Joining with Wendy's
In 1992, Daniel P. Murphy, who owned all Tim Hortons and Wendy's restaurants in Prince Edward Island, had an idea. He decided to open new stores for both brands in the same building. This was in the town of Montague.
Murphy invited Ron Joyce and Wendy's chairman, Dave Thomas, to the opening of this "combo store." It was the first time the two leaders met. Murphy's success with combining coffee and donuts with Wendy's fast food led to a big change. On August 8, 1995, Wendy's International, Inc., an American company, bought and merged with TDL Group. This partnership lasted until 2009.
Many people talked about this sale in the news. In 1995, the Toronto Star newspaper wrote about Tim Hortons "selling out" to Wendy's. They said it was like another "great Canadian icon...gone to Yankee burgerfat."
Becoming Independent Again (2002–2006)
Tim Hortons stores grew very quickly. Eventually, it became Canada's largest food service company, even bigger than McDonald's. By 2005, Tim Hortons had twice as many stores in Canada as McDonald's. Its total sales also passed McDonald's Canadian sales by 2002. In 2005, Tim Hortons made up 22.6% of all fast-food money in Canada.
Some big investors wanted Wendy's to sell off parts of Tim Hortons. So, in late 2005, Wendy's announced it would sell some of its Tim Hortons shares. This happened on March 24, 2006, when Tim Hortons shares were first sold to the public. Wendy's then said it would give its remaining shares to its own shareholders by the end of 2006. Wendy's said this was because the two chains were competing more. Also, Tim Hortons was becoming strong enough on its own.
Shares of Tim Hortons started trading on March 24, 2006. The first price was CA$27 per share. This raised over $700 million on the first day. On September 24, Wendy's gave its remaining 82% of Tim Hortons shares to its shareholders. On the same day, Tim Hortons was added to Canada's main stock market index, the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
By March 2006, Tim Hortons had a huge share of the Canadian market. It served 76% of customers for baked goods. It also held 62% of the Canadian coffee market. Starbucks was second, with 7%.
Coming Back to Canada (2007–2013)
On June 29, 2009, Tim Hortons Inc. announced a big change. The company would become a new public company, also called "Tim Hortons Incorporated." This new company would be based in Canada. This change was mainly for tax reasons. On September 28, 2009, Tim Hortons Inc. announced it had finished this change. It was now a Canadian public company.
In November 2010, Tim Hortons started accepting Interac debit payments in most of its stores. They had started accepting Interac in Western Canada in 2003. Later, they accepted MasterCard and MasterCard PayPass in most stores in 2007. The company often said the delay in accepting more electronic payments was to "ensure speed of service." In 2012, Tim Hortons began to accept Visa cards. In 2013, they started accepting American Express cards.
By late 2013, Tim Hortons had "4,350 cafes around the world." Of these, 3,500 were in Canada, 817 in the U.S., and 33 in the GCC (Middle East). The company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, made $794 million in sales and $111 million in profit in the September quarter.
Joining Burger King (2014)
On August 24, 2014, the American fast-food chain Burger King announced a big plan. It was talking about joining with Tim Hortons Inc. This proposed deal was worth $18 billion. It would involve a new company based in Canada. A company called 3G Capital would own most of it. The rest of the shares would be owned by current Burger King and Tim Hortons shareholders.
A Tim Hortons representative said this merger would help Tim Hortons grow around the world. They would use Burger King's resources. The two chains would still operate separately after the merger. News of this plan made Tim Hortons' shares go up by 28 percent.
On August 25, 2014, Burger King officially said it would buy Tim Hortons Inc. The deal was worth CA$12.5 billion (US$11.4 billion). 3G Capital offered to buy the company for $65.50 per share. Existing shareholders could choose to get cash or shares in the new company. The agreement meant 3G Capital would own 51% of the new company. Tim Hortons' shareholders would own 22%, and Burger King's would own 27%. The new company would be based in Oakville, Canada. It would be listed on both the TSX and New York Stock Exchange.
As part of the deal, Burger King CEO Daniel Schwartz became the CEO of the new company. Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira became a vice-chairman and director. Burger King still operated from its headquarters in Miami. This deal created the third-largest fast-food restaurant company in the world.
On October 28, 2014, Canada's Competition Bureau approved the deal. The Bureau said the deal was "unlikely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition."
Former CEO Marc Caira said Tim Hortons would keep its identity after the purchase. He said the deal would "enable us to move more quickly and efficiently to bring Tim Hortons iconic Canadian brand to a new global customer base."
On October 30, 2014, some news outlets reported on a study. The study suggested that Burger King buying Tim Hortons could have "overwhelmingly negative consequences for Canadians." This study looked at 3G Capital, Burger King's owner. It said 3G Capital had a history of cutting costs aggressively. This could hurt Tim Hortons employees, small businesses, Canadian taxpayers, and customers.
The deal was approved by the Canadian Minister of Industry, James Moore, on December 4, 2014. The two companies agreed to Moore's conditions. These included keeping Burger King and Tim Hortons separate. They also had to keep "significant employment levels" at the Oakville headquarters. And Canadians had to make up at least 50% of Tim Hortons' board of directors. Tim Hortons shareholders approved the merger on December 9, 2014. The two chains merged under the new parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI). RBI started trading on December 15, 2014.
Recent Years (2015–Present)
In May 2015, the company announced it would close its U.S. headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. In August 2016, Tim Hortons changed presidents again. In September 2016, Tim Hortons said it would open stores in the United Kingdom.
In 2015, Restaurant Brands International made US$4.0522 billion in sales. This rose to $4.15 billion in 2016. By the end of 2016, Tim Hortons had 683 U.S. locations. Its total yearly sales were US$3.00 billion.
In April 2018, Tim Hortons announced it would move its main office to the Exchange Tower in downtown Toronto. About 400 employees would move there.
In May 2018, a study by the Reputation Institute showed something interesting. Tim Hortons had dropped from 13th to 67th in its study of Canada's most trusted companies. This was "one of the largest moves down" for any company they looked at. Still, the brand was "considered to have a 'strong reputation.'"
Starting in October 2018, Tim Hortons began putting in self-serve kiosks in some Ontario stores. By February 2019, these kiosks were being installed across Canada.
In June 2022, Tim Hortons was investigated by Canadian authorities. They looked into whether the Tim Hortons App was illegally tracking a lot of location information from Canadian customers. It was found to have tracked user movements even when the app was not being used. This was a violation of Canadian privacy laws.
Where to Find Tim Hortons
On December 31, 2018, Tim Hortons had 4,846 restaurants in 14 countries. This included 3,802 in Canada, 807 in the United States, 60 in Mexico, 29 in the Middle East, and 25 in the UK. As of September 2023, Tim Hortons has grown to 5,701 restaurants.
Tim Hortons also had stores on military bases. This included a location in Kandahar, Afghanistan. This store was mainly for Canadian and allied military members. Three more stores were on military bases in the U.S. at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The newest military location is at Camp Adzai in Latvia.
Tim Hortons in North America
Tim Hortons first started mostly in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. But the chain has grown into Quebec and western Canada. Its store in Iqaluit, Nunavut, was the northernmost store in 2010. As of 2023, the store in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, is the northernmost one.
TDL Group made $1.48 billion in sales in 2005. Tim Hortons also has stores on Canadian and American university campuses. These include Brock University, York University, and the University of British Columbia.
In March 2010, Tim Hortons announced plans to open even more stores by 2013. They planned 600 new stores in Canada, mostly in Quebec and Western Canada. They also planned 300 new stores in the U.S., mainly in Michigan, New York, and Ohio. The plan also included opening stores in places like hospitals, universities, and airports. They also wanted to expand their partnership with the U.S. ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery.
In 2010, Tim Hortons opened what were then its northernmost stores. These were three small kiosks at NorthMart stores in Iqaluit, Nunavut. This meant Tim Hortons now had a presence in every province and territory of Canada. Nick Javor, a senior vice-president at Tim Hortons, said, "You could say it's overdue. If we can be in Kandahar, why can't we be in Iqaluit?"
In December 2011, Tim Hortons opened its 4,000th restaurant. In 2012, Tim Hortons Inc. reported total sales of $3.12 billion (Canadian).
Tim Hortons in the United States
At first, U.S. stores opened naturally near the Canada–U.S. border. For example, stores opened in Maine and the Buffalo, New York area. Tim Horton himself played hockey for the Buffalo Sabres from 1972 to 1974. The very first U.S. locations opened in Deerfield Beach, Florida and Pompano Beach, Florida in 1981. But these stores didn't do well and closed.
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In 1984, the chain tried again in the U.S. with a store in Tonawanda, New York. Starting in the mid-1990s, the chain grew in the U.S. by taking over old locations from other fast-food chains. For example, in 1996 and 1997, Wendy's International Inc. bought 37 old Rax locations. These were in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. 30 of them became Tim Hortons. Also, 35 closed Hardee's stores in the Detroit area were bought to be changed into Tim Hortons. By 2004, the chain also bought 42 Bess Eaton coffee and donut restaurants in New England.
In October 2008, Tim Hortons announced a plan to add 82 locations inside Tops Markets stores in the United States.
On July 13, 2009, Tim Hortons opened stores in New York City. These were in old Dunkin' Donuts locations. One store is at Madison Square Garden, where Tim Horton played hockey for the New York Rangers from 1969 to 1971.
In November 2010, Tim Hortons announced it was closing 36 stores in the northeastern U.S. This was because of strong competition from other coffee chains like Dunkin' Donuts. The company said it would focus on its main markets, like western Canada.
In 2010, Tim Hortons opened two small kiosks at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. This was a test for possibly expanding into Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh Penguins hockey star Sidney Crosby has a long-time sponsorship with Tim Hortons. Tim Horton also played for the Penguins for one season.
In 2011, Tim Hortons grew quickly in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.
In 2012, Tim Hortons started advertising in the Youngstown, Ohio, area. This was before they planned to open stores there. The chain entered the area in July 2012 with a store in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. This store later closed. But Tim Hortons came back to the market in 2019 with two new stores.
As of 2012, the company had stores in many U.S. states. These included Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
On January 7, 2014, Tim Hortons opened a kiosk in the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. This is where the Arizona Coyotes hockey team plays. This was the first Tim Hortons in Arizona. A big Tim Hortons store in Buffalo opened across from the KeyBank Center on October 29, 2014.
In 2016, Tim Hortons expanded to Minnesota with a store inside Mall of America. However, this store is now closed. In 2017, the chain announced plans for 105 new stores in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. The first of these opened in July 2019.
In 2020, Tim Hortons teamed up with Bolla Market. They planned to open "15 to 20" stores inside gas stations across Long Island.
In 2022, Tim Hortons announced plans to expand into Georgia and Texas. Over the next five years, they plan to open over 20 new stores in the Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia, areas, plus greater Houston, Texas.
Tim Hortons in Asia
Tim Hortons began expanding in Asia in 2017. This was after its 2014 merger with Burger King into Restaurant Brands International. They saw a growing demand for coffee in many countries. The first store in Southeast Asia opened in the Philippines on February 28, 2017. It was at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. As of December 2023, there are 52 Tim Hortons stores in the Philippines.
Through a partnership with Dubai-based Apparel Group, Tim Hortons entered the United Arab Emirates in 2011. Stores opened in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. The first one opened in September 2011. As of December 2013, Tim Hortons had 19 stores in the United Arab Emirates, two in Oman, and two in Saudi Arabia. They plan to open up to 120 stores over the next five years in the Persian Gulf area.
In July 2018, Tim Hortons announced plans to open 1,500 stores in China. The first one opened on February 26, 2019, in Huangpu District, Shanghai.
The first Tim Hortons in Thailand opened on January 18, 2020. It was at Samyan Mitrtown Mall in Bangkok. As of January 2021, there are 10 stores in Thailand.
The first two Tim Hortons stores in India opened on August 11, 2022. They were in New Delhi and Gurugram. A third store opened in New Delhi on August 31, 2022.
On February 11, 2023, Tim Hortons opened four stores in Lahore, Pakistan. They also announced plans to open more stores in other big cities in Pakistan.
In 2023, a Japanese company called Marubeni Corporation announced plans to open Tim Hortons stores in Singapore and Malaysia. They also plan to open one in Indonesia in 2024. The store in Singapore officially opened at VivoCity on November 17, 2023.
In May 2023, Tim Hortons announced plans to expand into South Korea. In September 2023, officials said the first Korean store would open in Gangnam District, Seoul, within the year.
Tim Hortons in Europe
United Kingdom and Ireland
Tim Hortons products have been sold in Ireland and the United Kingdom since 2006. You could find them in some Spar convenience stores and Tesco supermarkets. Tim Hortons also has a small store at the Dublin Zoo. As of April 30, 2007, Tim Hortons coffee and donuts were sold at small self-service counters in 50 Spar stores in the UK and Ireland.
In 2016, Tim Hortons announced it would open full stores in the United Kingdom starting in 2017. Glasgow saw the first UK store open on June 2, 2017. By January 2023, there were 73 locations in the UK.
Ireland's first Tim Hortons store opened in Limerick in 2022.
Spain
In December 2017, Tim Hortons opened two stores in the center of Madrid, Spain. Later, another opened in the city of Pozuelo de Alarcón. The menu there also includes typical Spanish drinks, along with Tim Hortons' usual offerings.
Andorra
Even though the Principality of Andorra is its own country, the Tim Hortons shop in El Pas de la Casa, Andorra, is listed on the Spanish Tim Hortons website.
What's on the Menu?
When Tim Hortons first started, it only sold two things: coffee and donuts. Now, besides coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, the menu has many other baked goods. These include bagels, muffins, croissants, cookies, and danishes. The company provides nutrition information for most menu items.
Most Tim Hortons stores have the same items on their menu. However, prices might be a little different. This is because it's a franchise business. So, the cost of each item can vary slightly depending on the store owner and the province it's in.
Coffee and Drinks
Tim Hortons sells coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soft drinks. In the mid-1990s, the chain started selling special drinks. These included flavored cappuccinos, iced cappuccinos, and iced coffee.
Even though they added more food in 2009, the company still relies a lot on coffee sales. In 2009, it was reported that 60% of their sales happen in the morning. More than half of that is coffee. The coffee they serve is made from 100% arabica beans. Their "original blend" is a medium, balanced roast. It is the most popular coffee in Canada. The chain has an "always fresh" rule. This means coffee is served within 20 minutes of being brewed.
In November 2011, the company said they would add espresso machines to 1,000 of their stores. On April 16, 2012, they launched frozen lemonade in two flavors: original and raspberry. On August 15, 2014, the company added a dark roast coffee blend as another option.
Food Items
The menu has many baked goods. These include donut holes (called Timbits), muffins, croissants, cookies, and bagels. The dutchie is a Canadian donut that became very popular because of Tim Hortons.
Since the mid-1990s, the chain has added more than just donuts and coffee. They now have special items like New York-style cheesecake. They also offer lunch items like soups, chili, and submarine sandwiches. In the fall of 2006, they released a breakfast sandwich. It has an egg, cheese, and ham, bacon, or sausage on a biscuit, English muffin, or bagel.
In February 2009, they announced a partnership with the American ice cream shop Cold Stone Creamery. The plan was for each chain to turn 50 stores into places that sold both brands. This would make 100 combined stores. The idea was tested successfully at two stores in Rhode Island. In February 2014, Tim Hortons said they would remove Cold Stone Creamery from all their Canadian restaurants. However, Tim Hortons would keep its Cold Stone locations in the United States.
In June 2018, Tim Hortons offered poutine for a limited time across Canada. Poutine is a famous Canadian dish. It uses seasoned potato wedges instead of French fries. People had mixed feelings about the poutine on social media.
In Canada, the company started offering hamburgers for lunch in 2017. They even offered a "Beyond Meat" meatless option to attract customers looking for healthier choices. However, after a short time, customers did not like the hamburgers. Sales were poor, so in 2019, hamburgers were removed from Tim Hortons menus in Canada.
On May 15, 2023, Tim Hortons added two new lunch and dinner items in Canada. These were the BBQ Crispy Chicken Loaded Bowl and the BBQ Crispy Chicken Loaded Wrap. Both are made with crispy chicken covered in a smoky barbecue sauce. They are mixed with grains, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
How Tim Hortons Bakes and a Lawsuit
As Tim Hortons grew and added more menu items, they changed how they made their baked goods. Donuts used to be made fresh at night for the morning rush. Now, they are "parbaked." This means they are partly cooked, then frozen, and sent to every restaurant in Canada from Brantford, Ontario. Each restaurant then finishes baking and preparing the products throughout the day.
Tim Hortons' change to the parbaking system disappointed some customers. They felt it didn't match the chain's "always fresh" slogan. In 2008, two store owners started a lawsuit against the company. They claimed that parbaking made it much more expensive for them to make a donut. It also required them to buy new freezers and microwaves. They said it lowered their profits while increasing the company's profits. The lawsuit was dismissed in February 2012.
Marketing and Culture
Tim Hortons' advertising slogans have included "You've Always Got Time for Tim Hortons." In the mid-2000s, they started using "Always Fresh. Always Tim Hortons."
Canadian Business magazine named Tim Hortons the best-managed brand in Canada in 2004 and 2005.
From 2005 to 2023, Tim Hortons was the main sponsor of the Brier. This is the yearly Canadian men's curling championship.
In September 2006, Tim Hortons faced some controversy. They told employees not to wear red as part of the Red Fridays campaign. This campaign was by military families to support Canadian troops. Within a few hours, Tim Hortons changed its mind. They allowed staff in Ontario stores to wear red ribbons or pins to show support.
In June 2009, Tim Hortons USA created Twitter and Facebook pages. This was to get more people to visit their websites.
On July 12, 2013, it was announced that Tim Hortons had bought the naming rights for a new stadium. This stadium was being built in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2014, Tim Hortons Field became the home stadium for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team.
In June 2015, Tim Hortons removed ads from an energy company called Enbridge from its in-store "Tims TV" service. This happened after a group called SumOfUs started a petition. The group argued that showing these ads meant Tim Hortons supported controversial projects by Enbridge. This decision led to some people boycotting Tim Hortons.
In November 2021, the chain started a promotion with Toronto singer Justin Bieber. This included special "Tim Biebs" Timbits and matching merchandise.
Tim Hortons is also the main sponsor of the soccer team Forge FC.
A Canadian Icon
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Tim Hortons is widely known as "Timmies" or "Timmy's" in Canada. Because there are so many Tim Hortons stores, it has become a very important part of Canadian life. Canadians eat more donuts and have more donut shops per person than any other country.
Tim Hortons' big presence in the coffee and donut market has made it a symbol of Canadian culture. News reports often call it an "icon." Tim Hortons TV commercials often show Canadians abroad missing Tim Hortons. Canadian author Pierre Berton once wrote: "In so many ways the story of Tim Hortons is the essential Canadian story."
Some people have worried about Tim Hortons becoming a national symbol. Rudyard Griffiths wrote in the Toronto Star that it was a "worrying sign" for Canadian identity. He added, "Surely Canada can come up with a better moniker than the Timbit Nation."
Tim Hortons' image as a Canadian icon has also spread to American culture. In the American TV show How I Met Your Mother, a character named Robin Scherbatsky, played by Canadian actress Cobie Smulders, called a Tim Hortons location the "most Canadian place in the universe." The chain has even used this comment in its ads. Tim Hortons has also been shown in other TV series like Homeland and The Last Ship.
Stan Mikita's Donuts from the movie Wayne's World is thought to be a funny copy of Tim Hortons.
Partnerships
Cold Stone Creamery
Kahala, the company that owns Cold Stone Creamery, announced a plan in February 2009. They agreed with Tim Hortons to open up to 100 stores that would sell both brands in the United States. This idea was tested successfully at two locations in Rhode Island. A very notable combined store opened in August 2009. Tim Hortons moved into three Cold Stone Creamery locations in New York City, including its main store in Times Square.
In June 2009, Cold Stone Creamery started testing the Canadian market. They opened six combined stores with Tim Hortons in Ontario. They then expanded to other parts of Canada. However, in February 2014, Tim Hortons' chief executive Marc Caira announced that they would remove Cold Stone Creamery from all their Canadian restaurants. Tim Hortons would keep its Cold Stone locations in the United States.
Military Partnerships
Tim Hortons has stores on at least seven Canadian Forces Bases. In March 2006, Tim Hortons announced it would open a store at the Canadian Forces base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. This was at the request of General Rick Hillier, the head of the Canadian military. The new Kandahar store opened on July 1, 2006. It was in a 40-foot trailer on the military base. The 41 staff members at the Kandahar store were from the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency. They received special training before working there. The Canadian government helped pay for the Kandahar store, giving about CAD$4–5 million each year. The Kandahar Tim Hortons closed on November 29, 2011. It had served four million cups of coffee and three million donuts over five years.
The first Tim Hortons store on a U.S. military base opened in 2009 at Fort Knox. The next year, a second Tim Hortons opened at Naval Station Norfolk. As of November 2011, Tim Hortons had five stores on four U.S. military bases.
Roll Up the Rim to Win Contest
Every February, Tim Hortons has a popular contest called "Roll Up the Rim to Win." As of 2007, over 31 million prizes were given out each year. These included cars, televisions, and Tim Hortons products. Customers find out if they won by unrolling the rim of their paper cups after they finish their drink. The idea for the contest started in 1985. A company that supplied Tim Hortons with cups had a new design. It allowed a message to be printed under the rim. The first Roll Up the Rim to Win contest was held in 1986. The biggest prize then was a small box of Timbits.
The contest is so popular that someone even invented a "Rimroller." This device helps roll up the rim mechanically.
In 2018, Tim Hortons started adding digital parts to the contest. This was through a "Scroll Up the Rim" feature on their mobile app. In 2020, because of environmental reasons and to promote their new Tims Rewards program, Tim Hortons announced a change. They would only give out physical Roll Up the Rim cups for the first two weeks of the campaign. After that, customers would get electronic entries through the app. Buying a drink with a reusable cup would give three entries.
On March 7, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Hortons announced a big change. They stopped giving out physical cups for the contest. This was due to worries that the virus could spread through returned cups. The contest would only be done through the app. The changes from 2020 stayed for 2021. The contest was renamed "Roll Up to Win." Also, Tim Hortons said that every electronic entry would win at least some Tims Rewards points.
Helping the Community
Tim Hortons supports many community programs. These include Free Skating, Free Swimming, and the Smile Cookie program. They also help with Remembrance Day events and food drives.
The company promotes itself through the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. This foundation was started by Ron Joyce. It helps thousands of children from Canada and the United States. These children, who might not otherwise get the chance, go to one of six special summer camps.
The foundation's biggest fundraiser is Camp Day. It happens every year on the Wednesday of the first full week in June. All the money from coffee sales at most Tim Hortons stores on that day goes to the foundation. Money from other activities held that day also goes to the foundation.
Ron Joyce's work with the Tim Horton Children's Foundation earned him the Gary Wright Humanitarian Award in 1991. He also received an appointment to the Order of Canada in 1992. This was mainly for his work with the Foundation.
Tim Hortons became a sponsor of Hockey Canada in December 2019. This includes being the main sponsor of the Centennial Cup, which is the national junior "A" ice hockey championship. They are also a major sponsor of Canada's national ice hockey teams.
Images for kids
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Tim Hortons in Vancouver
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Tim Hortons Logo
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The company is branded as Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop in the U.S.
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Tim Hortons in Kandahar, 2007
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A Tim Hortons in Cookstown, Northern Ireland
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A Tim Hortons in Madrid, Spain. The company opened its first location in Spain in 2017.
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Tim Hortons coffee and smoothie in 2011
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Tim Hortons baked goods in 2015
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An example of a losing Roll Up the Rim to Win cup in 2007
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A Smile cookie sold at Tim Hortons. The cookie forms a part of a community outreach program by the company.
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A Timbits hockey player. The company sponsors an ice hockey minor sports program in Canada.
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- List of Canadian restaurant chains
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of doughnut shops
- Coffee wars
- History of Burger King
