Tim Hortons just abruptly shuttered more than 20 locations in the US
Tim HortonsAs Tim Hortons attempts to expand in the US, it is facing the harsh reality that Americans might not be as committed to the coffee chain as cultish Canadian customers.
On Wednesday and Thursday, more than 20 Tim Hortons locations abruptly closed in Maine, New York City, and upstate New York.
Local news stations reported that employees didn't receive much advance notice, with a one employee telling Syracuse.com that the company showed "no respect" for employees, with the surprise layoffs on the cusp of the holiday season.
Employees were further infuriated because they reported that many of the closed locations performed well and met sales targets. Despite this, they say that the company decided to close all locations in the area.
Customers were also displeased by the sudden closures. One customer in Lewiston, Maine told the Sun Journal that the location closed up shop so abruptly that employees turned off the lights as he was still finishing his cup of green tea.
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"In line with our vision to deliver a great Guest experience while building and strengthening the Tim Hortons brand, we continuously review the performance of our restaurants," a Tim Hortons spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. "As we build the foundation for accelerated growth in the U.S., we have decided to close some restaurants in New York and Maine."
"At least the near to medium term... we'll look to build out density in the markets where we're present, as well as expand aggressively into new markets that are generally contiguous with the markets that we're already present in," parent company Restaurant Brands International CFO Josh Kobza said of Tim Hortons' expansion plans in last quarter's earning call.
Clearly, with the sudden closure of locations across this geographical region, that build out may not be going exactly to plan.
Tim Hortons is a uniquely Canadian chain, launching in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964. When the chain was bought by Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International, in 2014, the chain had to reassure Canadian customers it would remain "an independent, iconic Canadian brand."