News

Tim Hortons holiday promo features $25K in giveaways

November 28, 2011

Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop kicked off its holiday promotion program over Thanksgiving and Black Friday, giving away cash prizes in the chain's heaviest markets.

The giveaway targeted 18 cities including Columbus, Toledo and Dayton, Ohio; Detroit, Traverse City, Gaylord, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint, Mich.; Buffalo, Hamburg, Henrietta, Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Portland, and Bangor, Maine; and Richmond, Ind.

Starting Thanksgiving evening, Tim Hortons restaurant owners surprised the 25th person waiting in line for Black Friday deals with $725 in VISA gift cards. The denomination was chosen because of an annual Gallup poll which showed the average American will spend approximately that much on gifts this holiday season.

The 24th and 26th person in line each received a $100 Tim Card and everyone received a coupon for a free donut or hot chocolate in holiday flavors, redeemable at any Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop location.

"It's been a tough year for some people and this is just our way of saying 'Thank You,'" said Mike Meilleur, senior vice president of U.S. operations. "We know that spending $1.50 on a coffee adds up, which is why we are grateful for those who come to Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop every day."

Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop handed out approximately 24 gift cards on Thanksgiving evening.

Holiday Helpers program

The Thanksgiving event kicked off Tim Hortons' Holiday Helpers program, with surprise appearances slated throughout December at area sporting events for a continued VISA gift card giveaway. Tim Cards and free product coupons will also be included in the promotion.

These pop-ups will happen primarily in markets where Tim Hortons has a professional sports team partnership, including Columbus, Detroit and Buffalo, and possibly Maine, said Brynn Burton, manager of public relations at Tim Hortons U.S.

With this promotion extending throughout the end of the year, the company is expecting to give away a total of $25,000 in VISA gift cards.

Holiday flavors rolled out

Tim Hortons' hot chocolate holiday flavors include Candy Cane and Gingerbread. Additionally, the chain is featuring:

• Candy Cane Chocolate Donut: A chocolate cake ring decorated in vanilla fondant and topped with candy cane sprinkles;
• Candy Cane White Hot Chocolate: Mint-flavored hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and candy cane sprinkles;
• Gingerbread Donut; and
• Gingerbread Timbits.

Tim Hortons also is offering a Holiday Donut Six-Pack for the season, with donut varieties decorated in holiday themes and colors.

Tim Hortons has 645 restaurants in the U.S. and 3,871 restaurants systemwide.

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