20+ Delicious Tim Hortons Facts [Collected in 2024]

The latest Tim Hortons facts speak of moving away from experiments and efforts to cater to a demographic that no longer goes there while alienating long-time customers.

Clearly, the brand has realized the best value lies in reliable old coffee and donuts that come with friendly service rather than fancy menu additions. So, the company will move towards improving its core offers instead of venturing into unknown new items.

We dug deep to find the latest stats about this exciting development.

Amazing Tim Hortons Statistics [Editor’s Choice]

• There is a Tim Hortons in 957 cities in Canada.
• Every year, Tim Hortons serves two billion coffees.
• The first Tim Hortons was named Tim Horton Do-Nut.
• Only three people know the blend and roasting fingerprint of Tim Hortons coffee.
• Over 92% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 have visited Tim Hortons.
• 48% of Tim Hortons restaurants are in Ontario.
• 173 Tim Hortons restaurants are in Toronto.
• Around 36% of Tim Hortons customers buy their coffee in the afternoon.

Tim Hortons Company Facts 

1. There is a Tim Hortons in 630 cities in Canada, at least one in every province and territory.

(Source: Statista, Scrape Hero, Tim Hortons)

There are 4,949 Tim Hortons locations around the world. Tim Hortons statistics for Canada show most of them are in the Great White North (3,598 ). There is at least one Tim Hortons location in every Canadian province and territory, and in  630 cities altogether.

Most other current locations are in the US, but around 1,500 Tim Hortons locations will open in China over the next ten years.

Another useful Tim Hortons fact – delivery is available if you’re within a six-mile radius of a store offering Tim Hortons Delivery.

2. Tim Hortons made $8.2 billion in gross sales in 2021.

(Source: Statista)

Tim Hortons sales statistics show the company remains the leader in gross sales. In comparison, the MTY Group, which has more units thanks to its Bâton Rouge and Baja Fresh subsidiaries (around 6,000 locations), managed $3.6 billion in gross sales. 

For a greater perspective, there were over 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants in Canada in 2021.

Key takeaway: 

Tim Hortons market share is huge and dwarfs that of the competition.

3. The first Tim Hortons was called Tim Horton Do-Nut.

(Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Inside Timmies)

Here are some of the interesting facts about Tim Hortons through time:

• Tim Hortons history started with Jim Charade, the manager of a donut plant in Scarborough, ​Ontario, who opened a store called Your Do-Nut.
• Jim Charade and Toronto Maple Leafs player Tim Horton started the donut franchise company in the 1960s under the name Timanjim Ltd.
• The first four restaurants were called Tim Horton Drive-In. They were located in the greater Toronto and the Port Credit area and offered burgers and chicken.
• The first Tim Hortons opened in April 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, under the name Tim Horton Do-Nut
• A cup of coffee at Tim Horton Do-Nut cost $0.10 in 1964.

4. There were 35 restaurants when Tim Horton died.

(Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia)

• Tim Horton died in a car accident in St. Catharines on February 21, 1974, at the age of 44.
• There were 35 restaurant outlets when Tim Horton died, selling mainly hamburgers, chicken, and ice cream.
• Timbits were introduced in 1976.
• In 1995, Wendy’s bought Tim Hortons in a partnership that lasted until 2006. 
• Tim Hortons had over 3,000 outlets in Canada and 600 in the United States in 2009.
• Since 2010, eight out of ten coffees in Canada have come from Tim Hortons.

5. Over 350 employees were laid off when 3G Capital took over Tim Hortons.

(Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia)

• In 2014, 3G Capital, a Brazilian food chain that owns Burger King, bought Tim Hortons.

• According to Tim Hortons facts, around 350 employees, some 15% of the total, were laid off after the transition.
• In 2018, when the minimum hourly wage went up from $11.60 to $14.00, some locations removed certain benefits, including paid breaks and tips. This drew negative attention to the company’s practices.

6. Tim Hortons is the main revenue source for Restaurant Brands International, with 61% of sales.

(Source: Forbes, Statista)

Tim Hortons revenue statistics reveal Restaurant Brands International, the owner of Tim Hortons, gets most of its revenues from the chain, with fewer than 5,000 locations. 

Burger King is the second-largest contributor to Restaurant Brands International, with 31% of the revenue share and 19,000 locations worldwide. Popeyes is the third and the smallest franchise in the family, with just over 3,000 locations.

7. Initial Tim Hortons franchising fees for its US locations are around US$871,600 to $2,046,300.

(Source: Statista, Statista)

Building costs and site development were the biggest investments, with US$800,000 and US$500,000, respectively. However, new franchises also need to have a net worth of at least $500,000 to even be considered to open a restaurant. Moreover, the brand’s advertising spending in the US is estimated at US$11.3 million.

You can find some more details about the cost of a Tim Hortons franchise right here.

8. Only three people know the blend and roasting fingerprint of Tim Hortons coffee.

(Source: Tim Hortons)

One of the interesting Tim Hortons facts is that the franchise prides itself on only three people knowing the exact blend and roasting “fingerprint” of its coffee. To assure the quality and consistency of the brew, coffee masters taste over 75,000 cups a year. That’s a lot of coffee!

With good reason, though.

9. Almost eight out of ten coffees sold in Canada are Tim Hortons.

(Source: Inside Timmies)

In other words, more than 60% of the Canadian coffee market is taken up by Tim Hortons. Every year, 2 billion cups of coffee are served at Tim Hortons restaurants. Nothing strange when up to 15% of Canadians come to Tim Hortons for a cup every day. The phrase “Double-Double” was even added to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary!

10. Up to 92% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 have visited Tim Hortons, statistics reveal.

(Source: Statista, Course Hero)

Business people and working adults are the primary target group for Tim Hortons because the restaurant offers quick service in major locations. The chain is also popular with families and students from lower and middle-class backgrounds. 

The thing is:

The focus is on families, and the brand sponsors children’s sports teams and often offers free camp, skate, and swim days. It also appeals to students by offering free Wi-Fi and a quick, affordable lunch or snack.

11. Tim Hortons was ranked 33rd on the Reputation Institute’s list of the 50 most reputable Canadian companies in 2019.

(Source: Macleans)

It’s not all great news, though: 

Tim Hortons however is falling in the eyes of the consumers. Looking at the Reputation Institute’s list of the 50 most reputable Canadian companies, the chain no longer ranks in 13th place, as it did in 2017. Rather, it fell to as low as 50th in 2018 before recovering somewhat to get back up to 33rd in 2019.

12. After dropping to number 67 on the Ipsos Most Influential Brands list in 2018, Tim Hortons moved back into the top ten in 2019.

(Source: ProFitWorks, The Guardian)

Tim Hortons marketing statistics from the Ipsos Most Influential Brands in Canada study reveal the company was struggling in terms of influence. In fact, it fell from 16th in 2017 to a lowly 67th in 2018. However, the marketing team managed to get it back to the top ten in 2019.

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Tim Hortons Nutrition Facts

13. Hot chocolate at Tim Hortons starts at 240 calories and 6 grams of fat. 

(Source: Nutrition Charts)

If you order one cup of coffee and a serving of Tim Hortons popular bite-sized donuts called Timbits, you will consume approximately 250 calories with 5 to 10 grams of fat. 

Let’s see what some of the other popular options on the Tim Hortons menu are hiding:

• Tea has no fat but can contain up to 100 calories per a 16oz. cup. 
• Hot chocolate starts at 240 calories plus 6 grams of fat per a 10oz. cup.
• Smoothies start at 140 calories and go up to 210 calories with no fat.
• Standard latte has 70 calories.
• Espressos made without milk have no calories.
• Mochas have 180 calories plus 6 grams of fat because of the chocolate in them.

Key takeaway:

Tim Hortons nutrition facts are the least scary when we talk about green tea, black coffee, and smoothies. Click To Tweet

14. One Tim Hortons sandwich can contain 340 to 560 calories, Tim Hortons nutritional facts confirm.

(Source: Nutrition Charts)

If you choose to start your day with fast food, the calories in the breakfast menu look like this:

• Egg and cheese breakfast has only 220 calories and 12 grams of fat. 
• Sandwiches are quite packed with calories, and only one carries 560 calories and 37 grams of fat.
• Sausage, egg, and cheese English muffins are a bit under that, with 440 calories and 28 grams of fat.
• Muffins and bagels go from 250 to 400 calories per serving.
• Potato bacon soup has 230 calories and 13 grams of fat.
• Pesto Chicken Panini sandwiches contain 460 calories. 
• Chicken salad sandwiches have 340 calories.

Clearly, Tim Hortons has some healthy options it’s not all about the donuts.

15. Tim Hortons green tea nutrition facts show this is the safest drink to have diet-wise, as it contains 0g of everything.

(Source: Fatsecret, My Fitness Pal, Spark People)

Here are the detailed Tim Hortons food facts for some other favourites:

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet.*

Tim Hortons Iced Capp nutrition facts for a 167g / 16 fl oz cup

• Calories – 421
• Calories from Fat – 204
• 35% Total Fat – 23g.
• 90% Saturated Fat – 18g
• 3% Cholesterol – 10mg
• 2% Sodium – 43mg
• 4% Potassium – 132mg.
• 17% Total Carbohydrates – 52g
• Total Carbohydrates – 52g
• Dietary Fiber – N/A
• Sugars – 53g
• Protein – 3.1g
• Vitamin A – 3%
• Vitamin C – N/A
• Calcium – 11%
• Iron 0% – N/A

Tim Hortons chilli nutrition facts for 1 serving (294g)

• Calories – 290
• Total Fat – 16.00g, 21%
• Saturated Fat – 7%
• Trans Fat – N/A
• Cholesterol – 60mg
• Sodium – 1090mg, 47%
• Total Carbohydrate – 20g, 7%
• Dietary Fiber – 5.0g, 18%
• Sugars – 6 g
• Protein – 18g
• Vitamin C – 35%
• Vitamin A – 4%
• Calcium – 8%
• Iron – 45%

Tim Hortons coffee nutrition facts for 1 serving

• Calories – 80
• Total Fat – 4g
• Saturated Fat – N/A
• Polyunsaturated Fat – N/A
• Monounsaturated Fat – N/A
• Cholesterol – N/A
• Sodium – N/A
• Potassium – N/A
• Total Carbohydrate – 10g
• Dietary Fiber – N/A
• Sugars – 10g
• Protein – 1g

Tim Hortons donuts (Boston Cream Donut, Canadian Maple Donut, etc) nutrition facts for 1 donut (81 g)

• Calories – 220
• Total Fat – 6g, 8%
• Saturated Fat – 2.500g, 13%
• Trans Fat – N/A
• Cholesterol – N/A
• Sodium – 250mg 11%
• Total Carbohydrate – 37g, 13%
• Dietary Fiber – 1g, 4%
• Sugars – 15g
• Protein – 5g

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Tim Hortons Locations Statistics

16. 50% of Tim Hortons locations are in Ontario, Tim Hortons facts reveal.

(Source: Scrape Hero)

Ontario is the province with the most Tim Hortons restaurants by far. Here are the top three:

• Ontario, with a population of 14.45 million people, has 50% of locations – 1,485, or one coffee shop for every 8,094 people.

• Quebec, with a population of 8.43 million people, has 16% of locations – 563, or one coffee shop for every 14,979 people.

• Alberta, with a population of 4.35 million people, has 11% of locations – 407, or one coffee shop for every 10,678 people.

17. Toronto has 160 Tim Hortons restaurants, more than any other city in Canada.

(Source: Scrape Hero)

The top ten cities with the highest number of Tim Hortons locations are:

• Toronto, Ontario – 160
• Calgary, Alberta – 133
• Edmonton, Alberta – 118
• Mississauga, Ontario – 110
• North York, Ontario – 92
• Scarborough, Ontario – 82
• Winnipeg, Manitoba – 75
• Brampton, Ontario – 70
• London, Ontario – 70
• Montreal, Quebec – 65

18. The busiest time of the day at Tim Hortons is the afternoon when 36% of shoppers make their purchases.

(Source: Snapshot Numerator)

You might think the busiest hours at a chain providing coffee, sandwiches, and donuts would be breakfast, but that’s not the case. Check this out:

Only 17% of purchases at Tim Hortons are made in the morning. Noon has a slightly higher percentage (20%). But the afternoon is the peak time, with 36% of customers coming in after lunch. The evening sees 24% of purchases, with the remaining 3% coming in late at night.

19. In 2019, the company introduced a new improved lid after two years of research.

(Source: Macleans, Newswire)

After years of complaints, the company finally replaced the lid on the cups. It took 12 research studies and a mind-blowing 300 million cups of coffee tested thousands of times to perfect the new design. The lid is made of 100% recyclable plastic and features a maple leaf on top. 

19. Tim Hortons upgraded 2700 locations with digital boards, and the breakfast sandwich got a freshly cracked egg.

(Source: Yahoo Finance)

Following a 12.5% drop in sales at the end of 2019, the company introduced some changes. Namely, 2,700 drive-thru locations were upgraded with digital boards instead of the old paper ones that required employees to replace them by hand.

Additionally, the breakfast sandwiches changed the egg style from an omelette to freshly cracked ones. This proved to be a good move and an improvement to the taste and the image of the breakfast menu.

20. Tim Hortons recorded a single user’s movements more than 2,700 times in five months thanks to its app.

(Source: Financial Post)

Tim Hortons app statistics show over 6 million people around the world have downloaded and are using the app. Intended for marketing purposes and meant to give you tailored promotions and offers, the app supposedly tracks your location only when it’s on and in use.

It’s not that simple though, as the app received a lot of attention in the summer of 2020 when users discovered it tracks the locations and behaviours hours and days after the last use. In fact, it sends reports on movement even when you’re miles away on vacation or about to enter the competitors’ restaurant. 

Due to the fact that the privacy policy was misleading, it has since been rewritten.

21. Around 50% of people who changed their view about Tim Hotrons report it was due to negative press that the band got in the previous couple of years.

(Source: Forbes) 

Another 71% of customers say this change of perspective could cause them to visit the restaurant less often. Finally, 27% said they would move to another coffee shop altogether.

Which brings us to:

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The Bottom Line

Tim Hortons facts point out that while the brand is struggling to attract new target audiences, its solid customer base is still there and very reliable.

In fact, Tim Hortons is facing the fact that its strength may not be in the vast amount of options or the cool menu; rather, it’s the classic coffee & donuts and customer service. Timmy’s customers seem to want reliable, good-quality, simple food and service without much experimenting. 

So, Tim Hortons facts highlight the back-to-basics approach going forward.

What’s more, Tim Hortons statistics show limited and free offers were damaging in the long run. And while they will certainly still exist, the primary focus will shift to the core offers.