Canadian chain Tim Hortons is to launch in the UK under a franchise venture with a UK-based investor.
It will be the first European agreement of its kind for the 4,464-strong quick service group, which is part of Restaurant Brands International (RBI).
The unnamed joint venture company will be the master franchisee of the Tim Hortons brand in England, Scotland and Wales, where it will be responsible for developing and growing the brand in the market.
Founded as a single-site restaurant in Canada in 1964, the company serves premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks, teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and sandwiches, wraps and soups.
The news follows last month’s announcement from RBI of a master franchise joint venture to develop Tim Hortons in the Philippines, on top of its restaurants in Canada, the US and the Middle East.
“This deal is part of our growth plan to take the iconic Tim Hortons brand around the world,” said Daniel Schwartz, chief executive 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.”
“This is an incredibly proud moment for the TIM HORTONS® brand as we enter this dynamic market,” said Elías Díaz Sesé, president of Tim Hortons.
“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.”
Restaurant Brands International has more than $23bn in system-wide sales and over 19,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and US territories.
The third largest restaurant group in the world, RBI was formed after Burger King and Brazil based 3G Capital acquired Tim Hortons in 2014.
