Tim Hortons is shit. I'm convinced that the people who still go there have simply never actually had good coffee or doughnuts and have no basis of comparison.
Even then you'd think all the shitty company practices and inedible sandwiches would encourage them to try somewhere else.
I work in the construction industry. Convenience is king and people will give up quality for it when they're handing it out 10 times out of 10 sadly.
I bring in high quality donuts from a place near me. Trudeau put it in the spotlight a few years ago for grabbing from there lol. Every single time I do it, people comment and thank me for getting them something good.... but they'll never do it when they're grabbing them. They're like double the price but i expense it so why wouldn't I at least get something good?
I work film and we are both heathens that will eat anything brought to us in a cardboard box regardless of quality... And also drive 30 minutes to get bougie treats to share. Being able to expense food brings out the raccoon in all of us
Tim's might as well be a real estate company at this point. All their products are shit but they own prime locations in prime spots in basically all major and minor cities in Canada so they always win on convenience.
Yeah the doughnuts are still good. Not as good as the days they used to bake in house. Tim Hortons is just a quick convenient way to get not-horrendous coffee. It was never gourmet and shouldn't be compared as such.
Tim's has a long history of playing to a sense of nostalgia and "shared Canadian values".
Politicians have been using this association to try to seem like Regular Joes for years.
The franchise is owned by one of the largest corporations in the world.
Their menu increasingly contradicts the "traditional" vibe they promote, with newer items like Sweet Chili Chicken Loaded Wraps and Loaded Bowls, Tiramisu Cold Brew, and Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quenchers.
They're also increasingly expanding options that discourage people from eating in-store, eroding their "de facto town square" image.
Maybe the confused identity of the brand reflects the confused identity of Canada as a whole.
To be honest, it's a pretty muddled piece, but there are a couple of interesting points in there.
Their menu increasingly contradicts the "traditional" vibe they promote, with newer items like Sweet Chili Chicken Loaded Wraps and Loaded Bowls, Tiramisu Cold Brew, and Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quenchers.
I always find it funny that people make fun of Starbucks and their funny cup size names when I have to explain to my American friends what "regular" and "double double" mean.