Tim Hortons Cranks Up Renos and New-Builds

Tim Hortons (Toronto) has unveiled plans for a large-scale renovation and new-build program. The coffee house/restaurant chain, founded in 1974 by a legendary NHL player whose name the company bears, said it will fuse $130 million in company funds with $270 million from its franchisees to renovate 400 restaurants and build 80 new ones.

To help place existing stores on equal footing with new ones, renovations being undertaken by the chain include upgraded lighting and layouts that are welcoming to patrons and more efficient for staff; updated baked-goods display cases; improvements to the brand’s kiosk ordering system; and, behind the scenes, upgraded kitchen equipment.

The chain says virtually every dollar of these investments “stays close to home,” by providing work for local and regional tradespeople, and using home-grown construction/renovation materials, including custom furniture, signage and artwork.

“Tim Hortons was built in Canada by Canadians, and we are proud to continue investing in Canada to give our guests beautiful, modern restaurants to enjoy,” said Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. “These are Canadian families investing their own money in their own communities – and that’s something we’re proud of.”

Overall, the chain has nearly 4000 locales in its home country. (In the U.S., the chain has 690 restaurants. It was owned by Wendy’s from 1995-2006, at which time it was spun off as an independent company.)