Tim Hortons and its restaurant owners are spending $400 million to open new restaurants and renovate existing ones this year as American coffee and doughnut shop Dunkin’ Donuts is set to return to Canada and open hundreds of locations across the country.
Approximately 280 Canadian Tim Hortons restaurant owners are renovating 400 existing restaurant locations this year, while another 60 restaurant owners are building 80 new locations across the country, according to a May 22 news release from the company.
“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,” Tim Hortons President Axel Schwan said in the release. “These are Canadian families investing their own money in their own communities – and that’s something we’re proud of.”
The company, which opened its first location in Canada in 1964, says the building and renovating of its restaurants will create ongoing work for Canadian workers, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons, painters, tilers, mechanical companies, roofers, general contractors, and others.
The renovation and construction material is sourced through Canadian-owned businesses, with most items manufactured in Canada, Tim Hortons says, adding that its custom restaurant furniture is handcrafted in Montreal from 100 percent Canadian-sourced maple. Tim Hortons signs and restaurant artwork are also made in Canada, the company says.
Renovations and new builds are expected to include improved restaurant layouts, a “standout baked goods showcase,” improved digital ordering and pick up, and upgraded kitchen equipment.
Ontario will see the biggest changes, with 26 new locations and 188 renovated restaurants this year, while Quebec will have 14 new and 51 renovated locations, according to an estimate as of this month.
On the West Coast, British Columbia will have eight new and 43 renovated locations, while the Prairies will have 17 new and 49 renovated locations in Alberta, three new and 12 renovated locations in Saskatchewan, and three new and 10 renovated locations in Manitoba.
Meanwhile, Atlantic Canada will have two new and 11 renovated locations in Newfoundland and Labrador, one new and one renovated location in Prince Edward Island, two new and 15 renovated locations in Nova Scotia, and three new and 19 renovated locations in New Brunswick.
Northern Canada will see the least change, with one new location in the Northwest Territories and one renovated location in Nunavut.
Agri-food professor Sylvain Charlebois commented on Tim Hortons’ announcement, saying in a May 22 post on X: “So, you’re opening 80 new restaurants. Great. Now, how many are you closing?”
The Epoch Times contacted Tim Hortons for comment on whether it will be closing any locations but did not hear back by publication.
Dunkin’ Donuts Returns to Canada
Tim Hortons’ renovations and new locations come as Dunkin’ Donuts announced earlier this month it will be returning to Canada and has plans to open hundreds of locations across the country.
Canadian restaurant operator Foodtastic said on May 12 that it signed a master franchising agreement with Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands that will bring the U.S. company back to Canada eight years after it closed its final remaining locations in Quebec.
The first Dunkin’ location in Canada will open in late 2026 or early 2027 in Quebec or Ontario, according to Foodtastic, which also operates Second Cup, Milestones, and Freshii restaurants across Canada.
The company, which was founded in 1950 and was once known as Dunkin’ Donuts, also plans to launch one store per week over a 12-month period with expansion east into the Maritimes. The company has more than 14,200 restaurants in nearly 40 markets around the world, with its largest presence in the United States.
Tim Hortons has dominated the coffee shop sector in Canada for decades, but Dunkin’s return to Canada will once again pit the company against its Canadian rival.
Dunkin’ competed with Tim Hortons when it operated hundreds of locations across Canada, but it exited the Canadian market in 2018 after a successful lawsuit by Quebec franchisees who argued that the company failed to adequately promote the brand.
Foodtastic founder and CEO Peter Mammas told The Canadian Press that he expects Dunkin’ to be more successful this time because Foodtastic will be managing market development, franchisee recruitment, and operations.
The company’s menu is expected to feature a variety of hot and iced coffees, espresso beverages, teas, doughnuts, sandwiches, and snacks.
Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.
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