Coffee and baked goods chain opens at world's largest naval base

DUBLIN, OH, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Tim Hortons Inc. (NYSE: THI, TSX: THI), one of North America's largest quick service restaurant chains, today announced it has opened a restaurant at Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base, located in Norfolk, Virginia. The opening broadens Tim Hortons' long-established connection with military personnel, and continues the company's expansion in the U.S. market.

The NS Norfolk restaurant is Tim Hortons' second on a U.S. military base following the opening of a location at Fort Knox last fall. The company also serves its signature coffee and baked goods on seven Canadian military bases and at a restaurant in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which American, Canadian and British troops have embraced as a familiar taste of home since 2006.

"Tim Hortons is privileged to serve the 54,000 sailors of Naval Station Norfolk, their families and the more than 12,000 civilians who support them through their employment on the base," said David Clanachan, Chief Operations Officer, U.S. and International, Tim Hortons Inc. "The opening of our NS Norfolk location continues our strategy of expanding into contiguous markets through strategic alliances. We're excited to be working with NEX (Navy Exchange) and look forward to strengthening our affiliation."

In 2009 Tim Hortons Inc. entered into a strategic partnership with Kahala Corp. By the end of September Tim Hortons had 65 co-branded restaurants with Cold Stone Creamery in the United States and twelve locations in Canada. The 4,540 square-foot location at NS Norfolk is also co-branded, featuring Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery and also a Great Steak. The restaurant will be open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

"Naval Station Norfolk is proud to be the location for the first partnership between the Navy and Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery and Great Steak, said Naval Station's Commanding Officer, Capt. Kelly Johnson. "Adding the trio to the food service options on Naval Station is a tremendous benefit to Sailors and their families."

Tim Hortons believes in supporting the communities it serves, including the military. The company sponsors numerous events involving soldiers, conducts an annual coffee donation program called Operation Santa Claus and directs individuals to several military family support organizations for additional donations. It also produces a special Afghanistan edition of its popular Roll Up the Rim to Win rewards program where soldiers can win free coffee, computers, cash and other prizes.

Tim Hortons operates over 3,500 locations worldwide, with more than 500 in the U.S., and serves about two billion cups of coffee a year. Their signature hot and specialty iced coffees, made from a blend of Arabica beans, provide a rich, consistent cup of coffee every time to every customer. The company also offers a variety of always fresh baked goods - donuts, muffins, bagels and gourmet cookies - and an extensive lunch menu of sandwiches, wraps and variety of soups.

Tim Hortons' U.S. headquarters is located in Dublin, Ohio. The company was founded in 1964 by NHL hall-of-famer Tim Horton, who played hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres until his death in 1974. Tim Hortons opened its first U.S. restaurant in Tonawanda, NY in 1984. The company's coffee bean roasting plant is also based in Rochester, NY.

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Note to media: Media interested in covering the Grand Opening will meet at the Naval Tour and Information Center (9079 Hampton Blvd.) at 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 21. For more information about covering the event, contact the Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs Officer at 322-2576 or 438-4245 cell.

About Tim Hortons Inc.

Tim Hortons is the fourth largest publicly-traded quick service restaurant chain in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. As of September 27th, 2009, Tim Hortons had 3,527 systemwide restaurants, including 2,971 in Canada and 556 in the United States. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

SOURCE Tim Hortons Inc.