Tim Hortons

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by someone123

I hardly ever go to Tim Hortons but I find fast food just doesn't make a lot of sense in Vancouver. It used to be worse quality but cheap and easy. Now quality has arguably gone down even more and the prices are about on par with some actual restaurants. In my neighbourhood, a Chinese restaurant that makes things from scratch is about the same price as McDonald's. I'm not even sure the McDonald's is much faster. I guess it's open late.

100%. The family owned restaurants with free labour really have a good niche. Some have jacked up prices but usually you can get great authentic noodles or something for less than garbage fast food. Tim's is the worst for service and it all takes cooked from frozen.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by someone123

I hardly ever go to Tim Hortons but I find fast food just doesn't make a lot of sense in Vancouver. It used to be worse quality but cheap and easy. Now quality has arguably gone down even more and the prices are about on par with some actual restaurants. In my neighbourhood, a Chinese restaurant that makes things from scratch is about the same price as McDonald's. I'm not even sure the McDonald's is much faster. I guess it's open late.

And not just full-fledged restaurants, there are several local donut shops that are 100x better.

[MolsonExport]

I remember when a dozen donuts could be had for under $3.00. It is sort of crazy how expensive they’ve become, despite the alleged cost savings with par-baking.

[Taeolas]

I miss the Soup and Chili bread bowls. (And the chili and soup in general now, even if they were just canned Campbells equivalent).

I especially miss the Bowties and Long John 8's, back when they weren't Parbaked Tim-nots.

I also miss their Birthday cakes; mainly because their icing was somehow 200% sugar. I swear I've never tasted anything that sweet since.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I remember when a dozen donuts could be had for under $3.00. It is sort of crazy how expensive they’ve become, despite the alleged cost savings with par-baking.

I almost never go to Tim's anymore (2-3x/year) but the other day I got a large iced coffee and two regular croissants and it came to around $9.25.

Now I understand that croissants at a proper bakery are expensive, but Tim Hortons has around 4,000 locations and makes like 80,000-100,000 or more of them a day.

[MolsonExport]

Those aren't croissants. Real croissants are never frozen, and made from butter. Tim's uses palm oil and canola oil, in addition to butter.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Those aren't croissants. Real croissants are never frozen, and made from butter. Tim's uses palm oil and canola oil, in addition to butter.

It appears to be basically gas station or 7-Eleven style food that they sometimes warm up in a microwave.

[harls]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Those aren't croissants. Real croissants are never frozen, and made from butter. Tim's uses palm oil and canola oil, in addition to butter.

Tim's croissants would probably look the same if you left them out on the counter for 5 months. And they would still sell them.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Those aren't croissants. Real croissants are never frozen, and made from butter. Tim's uses palm oil and canola oil, in addition to butter.

Totally agreed. Hence the value proposition is très mauvais rapport qualité/prix
I expect it to be quick and cheap. But hey, gotta satisfy Brazilian Billionaire investors/shareholders

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by harls

Tim's croissants would probably look the same if you left them out on the counter for 5 months. And they would still sell them.

Hey now, it's not a McDonald's hamburger
https://youtu.be/9DogejLMjjU?si=gjY-kgwKk0zpxeDM

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Wigs

I almost never go to Tim's anymore (2-3x/year) but the other day I got a large iced coffee and two regular croissants and it came to around $9.25.

Now I understand that croissants at a proper bakery are expensive, but Tim Hortons has around 4,000 locations and makes like 80,000-100,000 or more of them a day.

Eh, that’s dirt cheap. I got a stale almond croissant from Blenz for $9.

Dunkin’s is a fair bit more expensive than Tim’s if you go based on its international prices and only marginally better in quality, so I don’t think they has much to worry about there. The food at Tims might be seven eleven quality, but it’s ubiquitous and super cheap which has always been the draw. In fact, come to think of it, if Seven Eleven ever expanded aggressively in Canada they would probably be Tim’s greatest threat.

[Loco101]

I see Dunkin having a difficult time in Canada. Even if it's Canadian owned and managed it won't be easy.

The first issue is that it's not different enough from Tims. Almost identical items. The next thing is price. Dunkin will have to be cheaper than Tims if it wants to gain market share. My bet is that Dunkin may start off and compete price-wise but will end up being more expensive. And I have to add that Dunkin will have to be fast and convenient. I've been to many Dunkin locations in the states and I would say that they aren't nearly as fast at Tims.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I see Dunkin having a difficult time in Canada. Even if it's Canadian owned and managed it won't be easy.

The first issue is that it's not different enough from Tims. Almost identical items. The next thing is price. Dunkin will have to be cheaper than Tims if it wants to gain market share. My bet is that Dunkin may start off and compete price-wise but will end up being more expensive. And I have to add that Dunkin will have to be fast and convenient. I've been to many Dunkin locations in the states and I would say that they aren't nearly as fast at Tims.

They need to have good coffee at a good price. Something Krispy Kreme missed out on in their first foray here 25 years ago.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by theman23

Eh, that’s dirt cheap. I got a stale almond croissant from Blenz for $9.

Dunkin’s is a fair bit more expensive than Tim’s if you go based on its international prices and only marginally better in quality, so I don’t think they has much to worry about there. The food at Tims might be seven eleven quality, but it’s ubiquitous and super cheap which has always been the draw. In fact, come to think of it, if Seven Eleven ever expanded aggressively in Canada they would probably be Tim’s greatest threat.

7-11 would need drive thru's to aggressively take on Tim's. McDonald's is their biggest threat with drive thru, decent coffee and decent breakfast food. When I was still a fast food guy, McDonald's breakfast beat out Tim's 100% of the time for me.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by theman23

Eh, that’s dirt cheap. I got a stale almond croissant from Blenz for $9.

I don't know what that is.

I'll pay good money for a proper butter bakery croissant. But Tim's coffee and "pastries" should be cheap and fast with around 4,000 locations and economies of scale (making 100k croissants/day or whatever). That's the only thing it has going for it.

Many Dunkins locations still make the product in store last I checked.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

They need to have good coffee at a good price. Something Krispy Kreme missed out on in their first foray here 25 years ago.

indeed. How hard is it to make a decent drip coffee? McD's somehow manages it.

Krispy Kreme has good donuts, but their coffee is terrible.

And McDonald's breakfast sandwiches >> Tim Horton's.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Wigs

I don't know what that is.

I'll pay good money for a proper butter bakery croissant. But Tim's coffee and "pastries" should be cheap and fast with around 4,000 locations and economies of scale (making 100k croissants/day or whatever). That's the only thing it has going for it.

Many Dunkins locations still make the product in store last I checked.

Dime a dozen Starbucks esque coffee chain in Vancouver. The food is maybe 50% better but anywhere from two to three times the price.

As for Dunkin’s making things in house, I dont think it’s any different. Always weird seeing the elbows up crowd also being the group most likely to unfairly denigrate one of our country’s biggest commercial success in favour of American slop.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by theman23

Dime a dozen Starbucks esque coffee chain in Vancouver. The food is maybe 50% better but anywhere from two to three times the price.

As for Dunkin’s making things in house, I dont think it’s any different. Always weird seeing the elbows up crowd also being the group most likely to unfairly denigrate one of our country’s biggest commercial success in favour of American slop.

They are US owned and staffed entirely by non-Canadians so how should we be loyal to a very poor product?

[theman23]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

They are US owned and staffed entirely by non-Canadians so how should we be loyal to a very poor product?

It’s a publicly traded company with its HQ in Toronto and a distinctly Canadian branding and heritage. As far as staffing goes, not sure. Corporate PR would argue otherwise. The one at my place of work doesn’t seem to have to have many non-Canadians, but I also don’t check their passports.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by theman23

As for Dunkin’s making things in house, I dont think it’s any different. Always weird seeing the elbows up crowd also being the group most likely to unfairly denigrate one of our country’s biggest commercial success in favour of American slop.

After the lies and treatment of my ex, her co-workers and many other TFWs across Canada to get them to sign long contracts, not to mention almost 1/3 ownership by Brazilian Billionaires investment group lumped in with the likes of Burger King, pardon me I no longer have any allegiance to a corporation that's no longer 100 percent "Canadian" and no longer a decent coffee and donut chain