Canadian chain Tim Hortons is planning a major expansion in the UK with 'dozens of new branches' and creating thousands of jobs.
The company - famed for its doughnuts and coffee - is hoping to capitalise on the increased demand for drive through dining.
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The company told the Telegraph it hopes to open an outlet in “every major city and town” over the next two years, starting with Milton Keynes.
How many jobs could be created?
The new expansion could create about 2,000 new jobs.
When did Tim Hortons arrive in the UK?
Tim Hortons opened its first UK branch in 2017 and now has 23 locations across the country, including Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and the Midlands.
The brand is owned by Restaurant Brands International (RBI), which also owns Burger King and US fast food chain, Popeyes.
The company currently runs more than 27,000 restaurants globally and has been looking to expand.
What have bosses of Tim Hortons UK said?
Chief commercial officer of Tim Hortons UK and Ireland, Kevin Hydes, told the Telegraph: “Despite challenging times for the sector, our drive-thru and flagship locations have delivered exceptional performance and our model is proving to be well attuned to the evolving needs of customers at this time.”
How to apply for a job at Tim Hortons
To apply for roles with Tim Hortons you can visit the company’s careers page on its website.
On the website, job hunters will be able to see all the available roles within your area and further afield.
'Expansion across the UK despite drop in sales'
Sales at Tim Hortons’ 4,900 global sites fell by more than 30 per cent in the quarter to July, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sales at its parent company RBI saw a 20 per cent decline in that same period, as lockdown forced many locations to close or restrict their offerings.
But, despite the upheaval caused by the pandemic, RBI has been pushing to expand its portfolio, especially outside the US and Canada.
This comes at a time when the UK’s existing hospitality sector has been reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, Costa Coffee announced plans to cut up to 1,650 jobs in response to the coronavirus crisis.
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The company said it would “streamline” its operations in response to the “high levels of uncertainty as to when trade will recover to pre-Covid levels.”
Meanwhile, chain Pret a Manger also announced that it will close 30 of its outlets and axe around 2,800 roles, almost triple the number of expected job cuts. It cited the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and a huge drop-off in sales.
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