Tim Hortons Inc. has opened its second U.S. military base location with a multi-branded restaurant at Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base, located in Norfolk, Va. The opening broadens Tim Hortons' long-established connection with military personnel and continues the company's expansion in the U.S. market.
Last fall, the company opened its first U.S. military base location at Fort Knox in Kentucky. The company also operates on seven Canadian military bases and at a restaurant in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which has served American, Canadian and British troops since 2006.
The 4,540 square-foot location at NS Norfolk features Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery and Great Steak.
"The opening of our NS Norfolk location continues our strategy of expanding into contiguous markets through strategic alliances," David Clanachan, chief operations officer, U.S. and International, Tim Hortons Inc., said in a news release. "We're excited to be working with NEX (Navy Exchange) and look forward to strengthening our affiliation."
Tim Hortons other strategic partnerships include a co-branding agreement with Kahala Corp.'s Cold Stone Creamery, which began in 2009 and now includes 65 co-branded U.S. restaurants and 12 in Canada.
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 more than 3,500 locations worldwide, with more than 500 U.S. stores.
Four different Kahala restaurant concepts, including Blimpie, Cold Stone Creamery, Great Steak and Rollerz, are operating on 18 U.S. military bases worldwide and in the Pentagon. Blimpie was the first Kahala concept to open on a military institution at Patrick Air Force Base in 1992. In total, Kahala operates 12 restaurant concepts with 3,500 locations worldwide.
