By MELISSA T. CASTRO

Known affectionately as “Timmy’s”, Tim Hortons is a Canadian staple.

The coffee and doughnut house is Canada’s largest quick-service restaurant chain. Now they are on a mission to continue their exponential growth beyond the sugar-frosted Great White North.

Founded by National Hockey League (NHL) star Tim Horton, the first Timmy’s were a far-cry from the distinctive red-cup business we know today.

Original selling hamburgers in North Bay, Ontario, Horton opened up shop in Hamilton, Ontario renaming his restaurant “Tim Horton’s Donuts.”

It’s in Hamilton that Horton partnered up with Ron Joyce, the man who would propel the expansion of the business to more than 500 shops, and help earn Canada the ubiquitous world record of highest per-capita concentration of doughnut shops.

Sweet teeth abound beyond the Canadian border though, and with overseas visitors loading up their suitcases with Timbits, the chain looked to expand their international presence.

The first international joint popped up just south of the Canadian border in 1986 with hundreds more to follow across the US. Tim Hortons is now a household name in fifteen states.

The business had sights beyond their closest neighbour though, and in 2011 Timmy’s started an aggressive international expansion plan which has seen over 5,100 restaurants open across 14 countries and regions.

With cafes and bake shops throughout the Middle East, China, and Spain, it’s no surprise Timmy’s has found a new home-away-from-home in Mexico.

Adapting to the local culinary tastes while keeping true to their maple leaf heritage, Tim Hortons has quickly established a following in Mexico, with 126 eateries opened in the span of the last 8 years.

The most recent of these is at the trendy Encuentro Oceanía shopping centre in México City opened Oct. 2024.

It’s never been a better time to get that double double, a box of jalapeño Timbits, and a maple-glazed doughnut.