Tim Hortons, an iconic Canadian restaurant chain known for its for coffee and doughnuts, will begin expanding in England, Scotland and Wales next year.
Restaurant Brands International Inc., the parent company of Tim Hortons, announced on Tuesday that it established a master franchise joint venture with an investor in Britain as part of the chain’s global expansion push.
Opening restaurants in the UK represents the second international expansion outside of North America for the 50-year-old chain.
“This deal is part of our growth plan to take the iconic TIM HORTONS® brand around the world,” said Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Restaurant Brands International.
“Great Britain is an attractive QSR market with a strong and growing coffee culture so it is a natural fit for the brand.”
Elías Díaz Sesé, President of Tim Hortons, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for the Tim Hortons brand as we enter this dynamic market. We look forward to bringing some of our signature products to Great Britain and helping our partners build brand awareness and open restaurants to welcome new guests.”
Gurprit Dhaliwal, CEO of the joint venture company, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the iconic TIM HORTONS® brand and Canada’s favourite coffee to Great Britain,”
“Our Guests in England, Scotland and Wales are sure to be delighted with our focus on delivering great products and an exceptional Guest experience.”
It remains unclear how many Tim Hortons are planned for the UK.
Tim Hortons currently has over 4,464 system wide restaurants across Canada, the United States and the Middle East.
In 2007 the chain struck a deal with the Spar convenience store chain in the UK and Ireland, resulting in Tim Hortons coffee and doughnuts being sold at small self-service counters in around 50 Spar stores across the country.