Canadian coffee and donut giant Tim Hortons is reportedly planning to open between 15 and 20 new outlets in Northern Ireland.
According to The Belfast Telegraph, an industry source said that the company is aiming to open up to 20 new cafés in Belfast as part of a UK-wide expansion proposal, with commercial property agents overseeing the firm's British developments.
Tim Hortons' plans to conquer the UK market were originally announced in late 2016 and it has since opened its inaugural UK stand-alone store in Glasgow.
Commenting on the potential for UK expansion, Tim Hortons chief operating officer for the UK and Ireland Gurprit Dhaliwal, stated: "We've witnessed Tim Hortons' phenomenal success in Canada, and wanted to replicate this in Great Britain. It's hard to explain just how important Tim Hortons is to Canadians, it's not just a restaurant, it's a way of life and a place of 'home', and we're positive Great Britain will fall in love with the brand."
However, official confirmation of the scale of its Northern Irish expansion or the proposed locations of new outlets is still pending. A spokesperson for the company declared, "While we know lots of towns and cities are excited to get their first Tim Hortons, we always keep our donuts close to our chest until we're ready to make an announcement."
