Latest news with #TimHortons'
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Changes brewing: Global coffee chains struggle to adapt to Korea's cafe culture
Blue Bottle rethinks its slow-coffee roots; Tim Hortons slashes prices Global coffee chain such as US franchise Blue Bottle and Canada's Tim Hortons, are changing tack in Korea's cutthroat coffee market, where both appear to have muffed their attemps to localize their offerings. Blue Bottle, which entered Korea in 2019 touting its artisanal brewing rituals, has recently traded some of its signature slowness for speed. Its once-prized focus on customer interaction has lost some of its gravitas, now that it's available on local delivery apps like Baemin and Coupang Eats. Perks like size upgrades and app discounts only further blur the lines between craft and convenience. As of October last year, only five of its 17 locations offered delivery. That number has since doubled to 10. According to industry insiders, the shift risks diluting the brand's identity, though it seems a necessary concession to Korean cconsumer culture. 'Yet, in a market awash with cheap caffeine and fast service, its core values may be hard to maintain,' one insider said. While Blue Bottle's annual sales in Korea rose 17 percent on-year to 31.2 billion won ($22.6 million) last year, operating profit plunged to 200 million won, from 1.9 billion won the previous year and 2.7 billion won in 2021. The company also posted a net loss of 1.1 billion won, its first since entering the Korean market. Another notable entrant, Tim Hortons, which made its Korean debut in 2023, appears to be at a crossroads. In June, the chain shuttered its flagship store in Cheongna, Incheon, its first directly operated location to close. While speculation swirls around its financial struggles in Korea, the company cited a search for a more fitting location to better reflect its Canadian roots. The backlash also stems from Tim Hortons' premium pricing strategy in Korea, where prices are 1.5 to 2 times higher than in Canada despite its reputation there for affordability and everyday value. For these newcomers, the hurdles are steeper in the face of fast-growing, budget-minded Korean chains like Mega Coffee, whose 2,000-won Americano delivers enough of a caffeine kick to stand up against Tim Hortons' 4,000-won and Blue Bottle's 5,900-won Americanos. This month, Tim Hortons launched a promotional campaign slashing prices on its signature Iced Capp by 60 percent and offering free Americano coupons to customers who purchased donuts, in a bid to reconnect with Korean consumers. When it comes to strategy, Starbucks, a dominant force in Korea's cafe scene, is an early mover in delivery, having launched the service in April last year. It continues to anchor customer loyalty by doubling down with expanded app rewards and discounts of up to 60 percent. 'Korean coffee consumers move fast and expect brands to keep pace,' said one industry official, urging global chains to stay agile and responsive to local demands. 'Striking the right balance between brand roots and local flavor is critical to success.' Korea's saturated and stratified coffee market indeed breeds stiff competition, in which cafe businesses at every tier are feeling the squeeze. According to Korea's National Tax Service, the number of coffee shops nationwide dipped to 95,337 in the first quarter, down 743 from a year earlier. It's the first recorded decline since the agency began tracking the figure in 2018.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Why Canadians are turning on Tim Hortons: A brewing identity crisis
For decades, Tim Hortons has been a cherished symbol of Canadian identity, tied closely to the country's culture and national pride. But in recent months, public sentiment has shifted. Many Canadians are voicing frustration and even outrage over the company's deepening ties to the United States. What was once considered a beloved national treasure is now being criticized for losing its roots. With its parent company headquartered in Miami and a growing perception of American influence, Tim Hortons is facing a backlash that has some customers calling for a boycott and questioning what it truly means to be Canadian. Tim Hortons' American ownership and loss of Canadian identity Tim Hortons was founded in 1964 by hockey player Tim Horton and quickly grew into a staple of everyday Canadian life. However, its 2014 acquisition by Burger King, and the resulting formation of Restaurant Brands International, shifted its corporate structure. The company now has its principal executive offices in Miami, and 60 percent of its shares are held in the US. This shift has left many Canadians feeling the brand no longer represents them, despite its ongoing marketing campaigns claiming it is 'proudly Canadian. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo ' Public backlash and cultural disappointment The criticism has been especially vocal online, with Reddit users and commentators expressing disgust over the chain's continued dominance in Canadian life. Some are angry that a company with American leadership is still seen as a Canadian cultural icon. One Reddit user called it 'embarrassing,' while others have accused Tim Hortons of destroying local food culture and selling out its identity. Despite efforts by the company to address concerns through public relations campaigns, many feel these gestures are hollow. Local ownership vs corporate control While Tim Hortons argues it remains Canadian through its franchised business model, with profits going to local Canadian owners, critics are unconvinced. They point out that major corporate decisions are made in the US, and that the branding of "Canadian-ness" is more a marketing tactic than a reflection of values. Business experts say the situation is nuanced, but the symbolic weight of American control has ignited a strong emotional reaction among Canadians. Tim Hortons trying to reclaim national pride In February, Tim Hortons launched a campaign reaffirming its Canadian roots, but the move was met with skepticism. The company's press release titled 'Is Tim Hortons Canadian?' was widely seen as defensive rather than reassuring. Many Canadians now see Tim Hortons as a brand that has drifted too far from its origins, turning what was once a point of pride into a point of contention. Whether the company can win back public trust remains uncertain in a time when national identity feels more contested than ever.
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Canucks angry over iconic coffee chain's US ties: ‘F–k Tim Hortons'
It's an only in Canada crisis! Canucks are torn over whether they should still support the Tim Hortons coffee chain — or boycott, since it is owned by a multinational conglomerate with strong US ties. The topic of whether Tim Hortons is Canadian enough has reached a fever pitch since the trade war that's had many Canadians vowing to boycott everything American – from food and booze to trips to companies. Advertisement 5 'Being Canadian' is literally Tim Hortons' entire identity, so the fact its parent company is American is no small deal. eqroy – 'F–k Tim Hortons. It's embarrassing that they still seem to hold a large part of the Canadian cultural zeitgeist,' wrote one angry Canuck on Reddit. 'RIP Timmie's,' lashed out another. Advertisement The iconic doughnut and coffee shop was co-founded by Toronto Maple Leafs player Tim Horton in 1964, and its 'Canadian-ness' has been the cornerstone of its entire brand. But Burger King bought out Tim Hortons for $11 billion back in 2014, and the merger created Restaurant Brands International. Over time, the conglomerate's Canadian ties became fewer — in the last few months, the company boasted principal executive offices in Miami instead of Toronto. 5 Tim Horton played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 20 years but spent the last five years of his NHL career in the US, playing for the Rangers, Penguins and Sabres. Getty Images Advertisement 5 Horton opened his first doughnut shop at 34 when he was still playing in the NHL. Four years later, Tim Hortons was already a multi-million-dollar franchise. Getty Images Tim Hortons tried to save the day with an ad campaign in February declaring it to be 'proudly Canadian.' The backlash has been such a big PR crisis for the company, it was forced to issue a press release with the title 'Is Tim Hortons Canadian?' Many saw the move as disingenuous given its corporate overlords, and it did little to stop the raging debate. Advertisement 5 In response to the concerns, Tim Hortons launched its 'proudly Canadian' ad campaign a couple months ago. Tim Horton/Instagram 'I find Tim Hortons especially embarrassing to our national identity. It's been really easy for me to boycott them,' seethed one Canadian in a Reddit discussion this week titled, 'Let's clear the air on Tim Hortons.' 'They're a garbage company…who've destroyed what was once a vibrant doughnut ecosystem in this country,' said another. Karl Moore, a business professor at McGill University in Montreal, said it's a complicated quandary, for Canucks at least. 5 Restaurant Brands International — Tim Hortons' parent company — has corporate offices in Miami. Google Maps Tim Hortons' corporate ownership and decision-making is American, with about 60% of the publicly traded company's shares held in the US. But being a franchised business means local owners get a say. 'It's not a black and white thing,' Moore said. But, he continued, 'It's still very much an iconic Canadian brand — I think that the people who are complaining about it are a bit wound up.' Advertisement Tim Hortons identifies as Canadian, the company insisted to The Post. 'Tim Hortons is a franchised business. Profits made at Tims restaurants in Canada are the profits of Canadian restaurant owners,' said Michael Oliveira, Tim Hortons' director of communications.
Ottawa Citizen
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Community Builders: Sweet support for The Snowsuit Fund
Cookie lovers, get ready to grin from ear to ear: Tim Hortons' Smile Cookie Week is back from April 28 to May 4, and every chocolate chunk treat supports a cosy cause, keeping local kids warm through The Snowsuit Fund. Article content This weeklong sugar rush has become a heartwarming tradition in Ottawa, with all proceeds from the cookies going to purchase brand-new snowsuits for children in need. 'Every cookie that is sold, that money goes straight to The Snowsuit Fund,' said Patricia Ferguson, deputy chief of the Ottawa Police Service and a Snowsuit Fund board member. 'Tim Hortons doesn't take any of it, so 25 cookies buy a snowsuit for a child.' Article content Article content With spring finally showing its face in Ottawa — buds on the trees, songbirds in the air and snowsuits being packed away for the season — it might seem odd to think about winter. But for thousands of local kids, the next cold snap is always just a few months away. That's why early support from Smile Cookie Week is so vital. The Snowsuit Fund works year-round to make sure warm winter wear is ready when Mother Nature inevitably sends winter back our way. Article content Last year, Ottawa's cookie campaign raised enough to bundle up over 6,600 children — and the need keeps growing. 'There are so many families and new Canadians now. They didn't know they needed snowsuits and they don't have the means, so The Snowsuit Fund fills that gap,' said Ferguson. A growing number of Ottawa families rely on The Snowsuit Fund, which distributed over 19,000 snowsuits to 8,000 families last year, up from the usual 17,000. Article content Whether you buy one or 100, every cookie brings a smile. Stop by any local Tim Hortons this week to grab a sweet treat and help a child play in the snow with a big smile next winter. Article content Article content Article content
CBC
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Thunder Bay coffee shop collecting donated Roll Up the Rim prizes for unhoused
Coffee-drinkers who are lucky enough to read anything other than "please play again" printed underneath the rim of their Tim Hortons' cup could usually expect a free double-double, or perhaps a donut, redeemable only at the chain's numerous Canadian locations. But this year, people in Thunder Bay who win free coffees in Tim Hortons' 'Roll up to Win' campaign will have a second option-- to trade their winning cup in for a coffee or tea at a local, independent coffee shop. Bay Village Coffee will accept donations of the winning tabs in exchange for a regular brewed coffee or tea, said owner Alan Forbes. He said he plans to donate all the free coffee coupons to Shelter House, a Thunder Bay homeless shelter. "It's a win-win because people are still getting their free coffee and somebody else is getting a free coffee as well," said Forbes. "We're just excited to be doing something different and giving people a different way to give back." Forbes said they're calling it the "Roll up, trade up, give back" campaign. He thinks it's different and separate enough from Tim Hortons' contest to avoid copyright infringement, he said. While many of the prizes in Tim Hortons' contest are hot beverages and food items, there are also bigger-ticket prizes like all-inclusive vacations, ATVs and a 2025 Volkswagon. Forbes said no one's tried to trade in anything that large yet, but their capacity to match prizes ends at coffee. "I have a pretty old Hyundai Elantra outside, but I don't think anybody would be too interested in that," he said. In addition to the customers coming to trade winning coffee tabs for drinks at Bay Village, Forbes said some have also donated tabs for food prizes like a donut without wanting anything in return. "Thunder Bay is a super generous community. Anytime that we've done any kind of a fundraiser or any attempt to give back to the community, it's very well received and it always impresses us," said Forbes. Coffee coupons can be a 'treat' for people in 'survival mode': Shelter House The coffee tab donation campaign was a surprise, said Shelter House executive director Brendan Carlin. While the shelter hasn't received any of the tabs yet, Carlin said he anticipates clients will be excited to be able to enjoy a hot drink. "Coffee is not a common donation for us. So it's really creative thinking on the part of Bay Village," he said. While it frequently gets donations of canned foods and restaurant leftovers, donations that could be considered "treats" are rarer, said Carlin. "Whether it's coffee or even chocolate or candy or something like that, it's really important. These are people who are vulnerable. They're always in survival mode. And anything that we can do, or the public can do to brighten that is wonderful," he said. While Shelter House does get funding to operate, Carlin said it depends on the support of the community and local businesses to keep operating. Even fundraisers that don't raise significant amounts of money are still helpful to raise awareness and support the vulnerable, he said.
