Tim Hortons has laid out an ambitious plan to add 800 more franchise outlets by 2018, the latest shot in an escalating war to stay on top of the quick breakfast and coffee market.
The TSX-listed company said Tuesday it will add as many as 300 new locations in the U.S., a market where it has had difficulty gaining a foothold.
Tims singled out a number of markets where it already has almost 100 would-be franchises lined up, including 40 in St. Louis, 25 in Youngstown, Ohio, 15 in Fort Wayne, Ind. and 15 in Minot, N.D.
The expansion, however, also includes hundreds of new full-service and kiosk locations in Canada, a market where Tim Hortons enjoys extreme brand loyalty but is perceived to be near saturation.
More to come