Tim Hortons enters the Indian market with two stores in New Delhi

Tim Hortons plans to open 'hundreds' of stores in India over the next ten years | Photo credit: Restaurant Brands International

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Tim Hortons has launched in India with two stores in New Delhi.
 
In a press release the Canadian coffee chain said the Select Citywalk Mall (Saket) and DLF Cyberhub stores offered a locally inspired menu, including chole kulcha flatbread, chicken makhani ravioli pasta, and paneer tikka wraps, alongside its familiar coffee offer.
 
Tim Hortons India CEO Navin Gurnaney said further stores would follow in the state of Punjab “in the coming months”, and that the launch reaffirmed the Canadian coffee chain’s commitment to open “hundreds of stores” in India over the next ten years.

“Today’s news is the first step in that exciting commitment. Tim Hortons is not just a popular coffee chain, it’s an experience,” Gurnaney said.
 
Tim Hortons first announced it would launch in India in March 2022 as part of an exclusive agreement with AG Café, a joint venture entity owned by fashion and retail conglomerate Apparel Group, and investment manager, Gateway Partners.
 
Gateway Partners is also an investor in Tim Hortons’ Middle East business.
 
Despite being hit hard by the pandemic, coffee chains have gathered pace in India, aiming to catalyse growing demand for aspirational hospitality experiences among a growing middle class and affluent younger workers.
 
In June 2022, India’s branded café market leader, domestic chain Café Coffee Day, posted a quarterly profit for its circa-500 store business, indicating the business’ stabilisation following heavy debts, store closures and the pandemic.
 
In the same month, UK-based food-to-go and coffee chain Pret A Manger announced a franchise agreement with India’s Reliance Brands Limited to open up to 100 stores in the country within the next five years.
 
In August, Devyani International Limited (DIL), which operates Costa Coffee in India, said it had opened 14 outlets during its last quarter to reach 69 stores across the country.
 
Starbucks has also gained ground in India, with a pivot towards smaller format stores enabling the Seattle-based coffee chain to reach around 270 outlets.
 
In August 2022, Tim Hortons parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI) hailed the performance of the coffee chain, which achieved 16.7% sales growth in its native Canadian market to reach revenues of $1.56bn. Its international stores segment posted 14% revenue growth to reach $270m.
 
Tim Hortons accounts for nearly 60% of RBI’s annual revenues and has added more than 300 net new stores around the world over the last 12 months, predominantly driven by growth in China, where it operates more than 400 outlets.
 
The coffee chain currently operates more than 5,300 stores across 13 countries, including Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, and the Philippines.