Tim Hortons, Owners Pour $400 Million into Canadian Expansion, Planning 80 New Cafés and 400 Renovations in 2026
Tim Hortons and its Canadian franchise owners are making a massive bet on the domestic market, announcing a joint investment of $400 million in 2026 to build 80 new locations and modernize 400 existing restaurants from coast to coast.
The initiative underscores the coffee giant’s deep roots in Canada, with the majority of the funding coming directly from the pockets of local owner-operators.
According to the company, there are 1,500 Canadian café owners who collectively operate more than 4,000 Tim Hortons locations across the country. This year, 340 of those owners are stepping up to reinvest their own capital into the brand.
The breakdown includes 280 Canadian restaurant owners financing renovations at 400 existing cafés, while an additional 60 owners are investing in the construction of 80 brand-new locations.
"Tim Hortons was built in Canada by Canadians, and we are proud to continue investing in Canada to give our guests beautiful, modern restaurants to enjoy," said Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. "These are Canadian families investing their own money in their own communities – and that's something we're proud of."
Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons
The investment comes as the chain continues to operate under the umbrella of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the Toronto-based holding company formed after Burger King’s $11.4 billion merger with Tim Hortons in 2014.
Founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey legend Tim Horton and Jim Charade, the chain has grown from a single coffee shop into a multinational phenomenon. Following Horton’s death in 1974, partner Ron Joyce expanded the franchise into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Today, Tim Hortons has a presence in 14 countries, though its Canadian footprint remains its strongest. Beyond civilian locations, the chain has also maintained a notable presence on military bases, including a historic outlet in Kandahar, Afghanistan (primarily for Canadian Armed Forces personnel), as well as locations at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, Fort Knox in Kentucky, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, and most recently at Camp Adazi in Latvia.
With the 2026 renovation and expansion plan, company leadership and franchisees are signaling a long-term commitment to modernizing the guest experience in their home market.