Advertisement

Food Lifestyle

‘A whole new customer base to disappoint’: Tim Hortons is launching in South Korea and Canadians are feeling secondhand embarrassment

Tim Hortons coffee cups on outdoor table in Toronto, showing popular Canadian coffee brand, takeaway cups, fast food, and beverage service.
The Tim Hortons franchise is setting up shop in yet another country and some Canadians are apparently feeling secondhand embarrassment. (Courtesy: Surja Sen Das Raj/ Unsplash)

The Tim Hortons franchise is setting up shop in yet another country and some Canadians are apparently feeling secondhand embarrassment.

The coffee chain has recently announced plans to enter the South Korean market later this year, according to a press release.

The brand currently has around 5,600 restaurants across 15 countries.

This includes the United States, Mexico, Spain, China, India, Thailand, Philippines, and of course, Canada.

Now, it hopes to add South Korea to that growing list.

“South Korea is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing coffee markets. We are excited about meeting our South Korean guests and introducing them to the premium quality coffee and delicious foods that Tims fans around the world know and love,” the press release continued.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Ontarians react to Doug Ford’s latest Tim Hortons commercial

Some Canadians aren’t impressed with the expansion, with some even feeling embarrassed.

“Tim Horton’s sucks compared to S. Korean cafes, eateries, fastfood joints. No way they can compete. Koreans ain’t falling for stale donuts, crappy ass coffees,” one Twitter user wrote.

“They’re going to fail in Korea. Coffee culture is big there, there are a lot of good cafés that actually have decent food/coffee and interior design,” another said.

Advertisement

Tim Hortons is also known for catering its menu based on local customs and taste buds. 

The running joke in Canada is that we have the worst Tim Hortons in the world since others seem to have wildly different ranges of foods that top ours.

For example, China has matcha tea drinks and rice porridge, the Philippines has quesadillas and burgers and Dubai has pistachio lattes and milk cakes to name a few.

Advertisement

In fact, Dubai is known for having one of the best Tim Hortons locations ever and has even gone viral over it.

Hi! What do you want to see more of on Now Toronto?

What do you want to see more of on Now Toronto?(Required)
Select up to 3 choices.
Share your email to subscribe to Now's newsletter.

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted