Tim Hortons a big part of Canadian identity
Tim Hortons a big part of Canadian identity
By Rob Gillies, The Associated Press, thecanadianpress.com, August 28, 2014
TORONTO - Few things unite Canadians the way Tim Hortons does. For half a century, they have warmed themselves on chilly mornings with the chain's coffee and Timbits or doughnut holes to Americans.
So news this week that Burger King will buy Tim Hortons served as a bittersweet reminder of how beloved the homegrown chain is in Canada, where 75 per cent of the all the coffee sold at fast food restaurants comes from "Timmy's," as it is affectionately known. Tim Hortons is found in just about every small town and large city across Canada, and hockey-mad Canadians often head to their local Timmy's before or after their kids' games.
Tim Hortons, in a bid to quell any concerns that its distinctly Canadian brand could be watered down, went out of its way to assure that the red and brown coffee and doughnut shop won't change, taking out big ads in newspapers and declaring "fellow Canadians can all rest assured that Tim Hortons will still be Tim Hortons following this transaction."
The chain's aura in Canada comes from its namesake: hockey Hall of Famer Tim Horton, the co-founder who died at 44 in a 1974 car accident after playing in a game for the Buffalo Sabres. In a long run with Canada's most popular NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the defenceman won four Stanley Cups, including Toronto's last in 1967. That, and the chain's omnipresence, puts his fame in Canada on the order of a New York Yankees baseball legend like Mickey Mantle or Yogi Berra.
"Tim Hortons is iconic in terms of Canada and I wouldn't like to see that diluted," said Daraius Bharucha, a 46-year old teacher from Ajax, Ontario, and a customer since he immigrated to Canada from India 21 years ago. Bharucha said the first thing he does when he returns home to Canada from a vacation is visit the local Timmy's. He knows he's home. "Even among new Canadians the idea of going to a Timmy's has become part of the vocabulary," he added.
While the takeover by Burger King, which is based in Miami but controlled by a Brazilian private equity fund, is getting much attention in Canada, it's not causing panic. U.S.-based Wendy's recently owned Tim Hortons and its brand remained intact. Wendy's then spun off Tim Hortons as a separate company in 2006 after more than a decade of ownership.
In the meantime, Tim Hortons kept expanding and now has 4,546 restaurants, including 3,630 in Canada, 866 in the United States and 50 in the Persian Gulf.
Both Burger King and Tim Hortons vow they will continue to be run independently. So don't expect to see Timbits alongside Whoppers on Burger King menus.
The global corporate headquarters of the two chains will be based in Oakville, Ontario, and the move is viewed as being driven by Burger King's desire for a tax haven.
The Canadian government welcomed the deal. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's spokesman said the government has been "reducing business taxes and creating jobs and boosting investment, making Canada one of the best countries in the world to do business."
Harper previously celebrated the return of Tim Horton's corporate headquarters to Canada in 2009 with a speech that talked about Timbits and the equally famous "double-double" coffee of two sugars and two creams.
"Millions of Canadian hockey parents like me know well that when it is 20 degrees below zero and everyone is up for a 6 a.m. practice, nothing motivates the team more than a box of Timbits, and nothing warms the parents in the stands better than a hot double-double," Harper said then.
Harper also quoted Canadian author Pierre Berton, who said "In so many ways the story of Tim Hortons is the essential Canadian story. It is the story of success and tragedy, of big dreams in small towns, of old fashioned values and tough-fisted business, of hard work and of hockey."
Harper's support is built in rural areas and with the "Tim Hortons crowd" which is popular with blue-collar Canadians. While some wealthier Canadians might prefer Starbucks, most just want a Timmy's double-double.
And they hope something so Canadian won't be diluted.
"It's the association with hockey and the legend of Tim Horton and a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the tragic circumstances in which he died at a young age," Bharucha said. "There is that kind of mystique attached to that name."
For those of you who have an interest in Canada or are Canadian citizens or residents, this is an example of stories concerning Canada that can be found at the "Canada - The True North Strong and Free" group on NT. View the stories and if you wish, membership in the group is fully open. Link direct to the group: http://thenewstalkers.com/group/canada-true-northTags
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Timmy must remain truly Canadian. There is no other acceptable solution.
My advice to people is to avoid all fast food. If you want hamburgers or coffee buy it from a mom and pop shop. Chances are the quality will be better and you will feel better about where your money is going. I also try to avoid large restaurant chains.
I think it's a ruse by Tims. They are merging with Burger King and changing all the names to 'Tim Horotn's is King'. We already know it's true here in Western New York.
Burger King is a franchise, so the local restaurants are owned by local owners/investors.
Merging franchise names is, in my opinion, like adding another option to the investor net by which these franchise companies make money. So if an investor wants to open a restaurant, they can pay the franchise advertising cut to market either Burger King or Tim Hortons to the same bank account. Or maybe merge the stores like you see in the KFC/TacoBell/AW world... Subway/TCBY is the same way.
We know how well the name change worked for Carls Jr/Hardees...
Half dozen one, six of the other.
Another rumour making the rounds is that Tin horton will soon be giving classes to Burger King employees teaching them to speak proper (Canadian) English. For example, when speaking to customers they must end every sentence with "eh?".
(Although its probably much ado aboot nothing
)
The majority of Americans still eat too much unhealthy food. But the shift towards healthy eating has begun.
And its reflected in the stock prices of these two types of restaurants. Here's the price of chart of MCD (MacDonald, junk food: blue line on chart) vs CMG (Chipotle Mexican Grill, fairly healthy fast food: green line):
Too bad McDonalds divested itself in Chipotle in 2006...
I wonder if someone got fired over that.
As a general rule, when there is a merger the stock prices pop. Here's what happened when this merger was announced:
Some stock traders look for companies that they think will be involved in mergers in hopes of getting a big pop and then selling at a nice profit.
The newest item on the new and improved Timmy/Burger King menu is the ''Puckburger''. Maple syrup on the side, if requested.
Waiter I prefer my Puckburgers on ice.
Hahahaha, would you like your ice cubed or crushed Harry? The chef is going to get called for icing either way.
If there is a toothpick sticking out of your Puckburger, you'd be called for spearing.