In the eastern city of Lahore, the coffee chain, which competes with Starbucks on a global scale, opened its first store in Pakistan.
The chain has launched in Pakistan following an exclusive agreement with Blue Foods (Private) Limited, opening in the upscale Defence neighborhood.
Over 8,000 square feet in size, the store in Defence Phase 6 has seating for more than 150 people and a drive-through for people who live in the fast lane.
Fresh French Vanilla, Iced Capps, and “Timbits” are now available within reach, so customers don’t have to travel across the ocean to Dubai to enjoy their favorite beverage.
In addition, the outlet will offer sandwiches and wraps in an effort to compete with local giants like Theatre, Espresso, and Rina’s Kitchenette as well as global chains like iHop, Costa Coffee, and Coffee Planet in the extremely crowded and hotly contested café market.
In a statement, Blue Foods’ managing director, Hassan Mansoor, stated that the company wants to not only enter one of the coffee chains’ fastest-growing markets worldwide but also contribute to the local economy by creating hundreds of new jobs.
Rafael Odorizzi, president of APAC for RBI (the parent company of Tim Hortons), stated, “We are very excited to bring Tim Hortons to Pakistan.”
“By serving a variety of Tim’s signature coffee blends with bold and rich flavors, freshly prepared craveable food with localized menu items, and prominent Canadian branding in the restaurant design to celebrate the brand’s heritage, we believe that we can replicate in Pakistan our recent successes in other international markets.”
Blue Foods and Tim Hortons intend to open three locations in Lahore by the end of their first month, with Gulberg locations opening on February 18 and 25 respectively.
Tim Hortons is renowned for its freshly prepared food and beverages and has been in the coffee industry for over 55 years.
The chain has expanded internationally over the past few years, opening over 5,300 restaurants in 14 nations, including the Philippines. Thailand, China, the Middle East, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, India, and Pakistan are just a few of the nations.