News

A beloved Canadian institution has announced plans to expand into Panama. Coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons says it will open 30 restaurants in Panama in the next 10 years, with the first scheduled to open in Panama City by the end of the year.

While most non-Canadians will shrug at the news, “Timmies,” as it is known, is a national addiction in Canada, the supplier of “Canada’s favorite coffee” and the largest quick-service restaurant chain in the country. It was even founded and named after a professional ice hockey player, Tim Gilbert Horton. 

Tim Hortons is partnering with Panamanian company Vortex Investment SA to roll out the Double Double coffee and Timbits doughnuts. The Panama restaurants will be the first in Central America for the chain, which recognizes that it is entering a country famed for its high-quality coffee. Some of the most expensive coffee in the world is grown in Panama.

“We look forward to bringing renowned quality Tim Hortons coffee to Panama and introducing our delicious food and welcoming Tim Hortons experience to guests by the end of this year,” Vortex said in a press release.

Tim Hortons has been spreading around the world in recent years. The brand currently has more than 5,700 restaurants in 17 countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines, plus recent openings in Singapore and South Korea. There are more than 600 Tim Hortons in the United States.