Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons, the coffee and bakery division of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc., was founded by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and remains a stalwart Canadian brand known for its Timbits bite-sized donuts.

The brand started in 1964 as Tim Horton Donuts and was founded by Horton, a National Hockey League player, in Hamilton, Ontario. Horton partnered with Ron Joyce in 1965. Upon Horton’s death in an automobile crash in 1974, Joyce bought out the Horton family’s shares.

Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products like yogurt.

In 2014, Burger King, owned by Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, bought Tim Hortons for $11.4 billion and the company became a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International, which also owns the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen concept.

As of March 31, 2021, Tim Hortons had 4,987 units systemwide, with 3,935 in Canada and 1,052 in the rest of the world.

Key data: Tim Hortons

Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Segment: Quick Service

Restaurant Segment: LSR Coffee/Bakery

Number of Locations: 655

2020 Sales: $639,179,000

Annual Growth

Source: Datassential Firefly 500

CEO: José Cil (Restaurant Brands International)

Parent/Group: Restaurant Brands International Inc.