The behind-the-counter story of Canada’s most fabled franchise

Everywhere we look, it seems, we see a Tim Hortons restaurant. The chain known foremost for its coffee has become a Canadian icon, ranking with hockey among the country’s cultural touchstones. These pubs without alcohol, as they’ve been termed, have become not only meeting places for regular Canadians, but also must-visit locations for our campaigning politicians and oases for Canadian soldiers overseas. For many Tim’s lovers, this chain has established an enduring connection to what it means to be Canadian.

Double Double is the first book to approach the company from a wide angle, from the life of its co-founder, Tim Horton; to the growth ofthe business under the steady hand of his friend and partner, Ron Joyce, after Horton’s death; to the company’s merger with the American fast-food chain Wendy’s and its eventual repatriation to Canada. A fascinating business story, Double Double examines how the American expansion of the chain has panned out and why Canadians are so dedicated to Tim Hortons’ menu.

As Tim Hortons faces new challenges in the ever-evolving world of fast food, Double Double sheds light on the chain’s fight to maintain its status as one of Canada’s most respected consumer brands in an increasingly competitive business.

DOUGLAS HUNTER has written widely on business, history, the environment and sports. He was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction and the Governor General’s Award for his book God’s Mercies. His previous books include The Race to the New World; Molson: The Birth of a Business Empire; Yzerman: The Making of a Champion; and The Bubble and the Bear: How Nortel Burst the Canadian Dream, which won the National Business Book Award. He is also a doctoral candidate in history at York University, a Vanier Scholar and Canada’s 2012 William E. Taylor Fellow. Born and raised in Hamilton, where Tim Hortons first became successful, Hunter now lives in Port McNicoll, Ontario.

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