Coffee or Donuts?….Tim Hortons Franchise

Tim Hortons is the name of a chain of quick service restaurants that began in 1964 in Canada, and which has experienced incredible growth in the years since then.  It was founded by and named after one of Canada’s most famous hockey players, who died in a tragic car accident in 1974.  After his death, the chain was taken over by his partner and investor, Ron Joyce, who has built the Tim Hortons franchise system into one of the biggest in the entire world.

There are over over 2700 Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada, outpacing even McDonald’s, the big Kahuna of fast food franchises world wide.  In fact, Tim Hortons has over 22 percent of the entire fast food market share in the nation of Canada, which is an astonishing feat, and shows just how popular this one of a kind restaurant chain is.  The chain has nearly 400 stores in the United States, and is always seeking new franchisees to expand its brand with new location in America.

What is a Tim Hortons franchise all about?  Well, when it first started, the stores only sold two items - coffee and donuts, much like the early days of another well known chain of restaurants, Dunkin Donuts.  But as the years went by the company began offering many other items in response to consumer demand, and it now features a full and varied menu.  They still have coffee and donuts, and these will always be the hallmark of the company.  Many people insist that Tim Hortons coffee is the best they’ve ever tasted, even better than Starbucks.  Nowadays they also sell cappuccinos, smoothies, and a variety of tea products. Another big seller is their version of doughnut holes, called Timbits.  Other baked good include bagels, cookies, and croissants.

But a Tim Hortons franchise is much more than just a snack shop.  They now feature a full line of sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch, as well as several delicious soups and chili, which helps them compete aggressively with traditional fast food chains.  The company is seeking to expand its presence in the United States, and with only 400 or so stores here, it’s truly an undiscovered gem.