Ontario-based Tim Hortons is testing new Panini sandwiches in Dayton, Ohio and Rochester, N.Y. The company's U.S. operations are based about an hour outside of Dayton, in a Columbus, Ohio suburb.
According to the Dayton Daily News, Tim Hortons has 23 locations in the greater Dayton market.
The new Paninis have been well-received thus far, according to the company. If the impending broader test is successful, the sandwiches will be rolled out nationally.
They are being sold for $4.29. Varieties include Tuscan Chicken, Pesto Chicken, Chipotle Turkey, Smoked Ham & Cheese and Tomato & Cheese. They're also available as part of a combo meal with soup.
The company will support the tests with a print and broadcast advertising campaign in the two markets.
Other new menu items abound
Although Tim Hortons is going for a greater lunch crowd with its Panini test, it's still embracing and evolving its core items and signature breakfast daypart.
Almost six months after rolling out its smoothie line in the U.S. market, the company is now selling its pre-blended, mixed berry and banana-strawberry fruit smoothies in Canada as well.
Also, in late 2010, Tim Hortons Canada added to its breakfast line with homestyle oatmeal and breakfast wraps.
In the U.S., Tim Hortons is testing espresso-based beverages in its 68 Central Ohio area restaurants. In total, 20 new specialty coffees are being tested.
The beverages being tested all contain espresso and steamed or 2-percent milk. They include hot and iced lattes, caramel, mocha and vanilla lattes, cappuccinos, espressos and americanos.
If the lineup is received well in the Columbus market, Tim Hortons will plan on a nationwide rollout by the end of the year.
Finally, according to Canadian news outlet Canoe, Tim Hortons has teamed up with Cold Stone Creamery to develop a new apple fritter ice cream. The offering features ice cream, chunks of apples and cinnamon and will be sold at co-branded locations in Canada.
Co-branded units are located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
This is the first Tim Hortons-inspired flavor created by Cold Stone Creamery. The apple fritter has been available at Tim Hortons since the 1960s.
The two companies announced a co-branding test initiative in March 2009 involving up to 50 locations in the U.S. for each chain following a successful test in two Rhode Island Tim Hortons locations.
