Tim Hortons teams up with Alibaba to woo Chinese coffee drinkers
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Freshippo will begin sales next month at its stores, of which it has more than 300, as well as through its official app, it said in a statement. Products will include drinks such as Velvet Cocoa Coffee.
Tims China, whose backers include Tencent Holdings, opened its 500th outlet in China last month and has set its sights on having a “profitable network” of 2,750 stores in the country by 2026.
Even so it would still lag Starbucks, the dominant foreign coffee brand in China with 6,000 stores and which also has a wide-ranging partnership with Alibaba.
Tims China was founded in 2019 by Cartesian Capital Group and Canada’s Restaurant Brands International, which also owns the Burger King and Popeyes brands in addition to Tim Hortons.
Questions & Answers
Q.What kind of products will Tim Hortons offer through this new partnership?
What kind of products will Tim Hortons offer through this new partnership?
The partnership will involve the launch of co-branded products with Alibaba's Freshippo. These products are expected to include drinks, such as a Velvet Cocoa Coffee, available through Freshippo's stores and app.
Q.How many Tim Hortons outlets are currently open in China?
How many Tim Hortons outlets are currently open in China?
Tims China opened its 500th outlet last month. This marks a significant milestone as the company continues its expansion efforts across the country, aiming for a much larger network.
Q.Who are the key backers of Tims China?
Who are the key backers of Tims China?
Tims China is backed by Tencent Holdings. It was originally founded in 2019 by Cartesian Capital Group and Canada’s Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King.
Q.What is Tims China's target for store expansion in the coming years?
What is Tims China's target for store expansion in the coming years?
Tims China has set a target to establish a profitable network of 2,750 stores in the country by 2026. This ambitious goal aims for significant growth, though it would still trail Starbucks' current presence.