Tim Hortons

About Tim Hortons

Canadian coffee house and restaurant chain Tim Hortons was founded in 1964 in Ontario by Canadian ice hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade. In 1967, Horton partnered with investor Ron Joyce, who assumed control over operations after Horton died in 1974. Joyce expanded the chain into a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Charade left the organization in 1966 and briefly returned in 1970 and 1993 through 1996. In August 2014, Burger King agreed to merge with Tim Hortons for $11.4billion and the two chains became subsidiaries of Restaurant Brands International.

Restaurant Brands signed a franchise deal in 2016 to bring Tim Hortons to the UK, with the master franchisee a joint venture between RBI and SK Group - an experienced Domino’s Pizza franchisee. A debut UK site opened in June 2017, in Glasgow’s Argyle Street, followed by its Welsh debut, in Cardiff, later that year. Its first sites in England, in Manchester, and in Northern Ireland, in Belfast, came the following year. In November 2018, Graeme and Lisa Tobias became the brand’s first UK franchisees when they opened a drive-thru in Stenhousemuir.

In September 2023, Propel revealed that Tim Hortons had launched its franchise model here and is planning significant growth of its UK estate. targeting approximately 20-25 site openings every year and expected its franchise partners to invest and open around 50%-60% these. It said: “With huge demand for Tim Hortons in the UK, we would love to eventually reach every town and city nationwide. In the short term, we have opened approximately 20-25 sites every year across the UK for the past three years, and we intend to continue our brand expansion at a similar scale and pace. We will work with franchise partners on tailored opportunities for growth and we have a strong pipeline of locations available across the UK.”

In April 2025, the company said: “The hospitality sector has faced significant challenges in recent years. Given this backdrop, it is pleasing to note the company was able to continue its store expansion programme, albeit at a slower rate than in previous years, and drive a significant year on year revenue increase. A degree of optimism is returning to the sector as price increases begin to slow in both foodservice and supermarkets and as delivery and takeaway sales return to growth for many leading operators after months of decline.”

In March 2026, Tim Hortons UK & Ireland extended its master franchise agreement with brand owner Restaurant Brands International (RBI) to 2045 and issued £26.7m equity to help support future growth. At the time, it operated 69 stores of the Canadian quick service restaurant brand throughout the UK. Deepinder Batth, chief executive of Tim Hortons UK&I, said: “Deep work was completed in 2024 and 2025 to triangulate core brand positioning, gap in market and the brand’s right to win in a very competitive coffee shop segment in the UK. This agreement is an important milestone as we continue to scale Tim Hortons brand in the UK market.

“Both shareholders have shown deep commitment to the opportunity and are fully aligned on the long-term potential of the brand in the market. This agreement demonstrates our shared vision and commitment between RBI and ourselves as we work closely together to build success in the UK and Ireland. Capitalising on the momentum achieved in 2025, this investment will enable us to put our ambitious growth plans into action.”

Why franchise with Tim Hortons

• ✓The company said the launch of its new franchise model followed five years of a test and learn phase, creating a “refined operating model and robust infrastructure that the team is confident will support new franchise partners and help to expand the business from a strategic standpoint”. The brand, which will continue to open and operate both corporate and franchised locations across the UK, said it is providing a nationwide opportunity to develop and open both Tim Hortons drive-thru and high street restaurants.
• ✓Kevin Hydes, chief commercial officer of Tim Hortons franchise in the UK, said: “The reception to Tim Hortons in the UK has been nothing short of extraordinary, and now we also want to take Tim Hortons to more local communities across the nation at pace. We’re confident that our franchise model will be core to us achieving this goal. We are looking for expert operators from across the UK. with a proven record of delivering brand standards, delighting customers and driving commercial growth.”
• ✓Franchise partners need to be able to fund £1.25m total, with at least £650,000 liquid. Food and QSR experience is beneficial, but not critical, and partners will ideally have run their own business. The company said it offers “top class support”, with nearly six decades of franchising experience, and sees the UK as one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Besides the initial investment, franchisees are expected to pay ongoing fees, including royalties, typically about 6% of the monthly gross sales, and a marketing fund fee of around 4%.
• ✓Tim Hortons provides extensive training and support for franchisees, which includes assistance in selecting a location, preparing for the launch, marketing campaigns, and ongoing operational support. Franchisees typically undergo a training program at Tim Hortons’ head office, gaining insights into successfully running a franchise.
• ✓“We are seeking select new business partners to develop the Tim Hortons brand across the UK,” it added. “We are looking for expert operators with a proven record of delivering brand standards, delighting customers and driving commercial growth. We are looking for partners who have the financial capability to take on a development agreement and a desire to open and operate multiple restaurants. We are looking for partners with minimum financial resources of £1.25m (50% liquid assets) and ability to secure further financing.”