Tim Hortons Will Expand Across American South

The coffee and donut chain plans to open 50 new franchised restaurants to grow its presence in southern markets.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Dining Out

Bold vector editorial illustration of a glazed donut and a plain coffee mug on a wooden surface. — Tim Hortons plans to open 50 new franchised restaurants across the American South to expand its market footprint beyond northern regions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tim Hortons intends to open 50 additional franchised restaurants across the United States. The expansion focuses on increasing the brand's footprint in the American South, where it already maintains a limited presence.

Why it matters

The company is seeking growth outside of its traditional northern U.S. markets. This strategy aims to leverage the chain's established success in Canada and northern states to capture new customers in more southern regions.

As of early 2026, the chain operated 13 locations in Texas, seven in Georgia, three in Tennessee, and one in Florida. These figures follow a year where the company added 30 net new U.S. stores, reaching 693 total locations nationwide.

The players

Tim Hortons

This multinational coffee and donut chain was founded in Canada and has expanded to become a major presence across North America.

Tim Horton

He was the professional hockey player who founded the eponymous restaurant chain before his death in 1974.

The details

To support this growth, the chain is relying on experienced franchise operators to secure sites with high traffic and visibility. The expansion builds on the company's 2025 performance, which saw 2% same-store sales growth in the U.S. and 2.7% growth in Canada.

1974: The year the chain's founder, Tim Horton, died in a car crash.
2023: The chain added six net U.S. restaurants.
2024: The chain added 21 net U.S. restaurants.
2025: The chain added 30 net U.S. restaurants and reported annual sales growth.
Start of 2026: The chain had established operations in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.

Culture Shift

This aggressive push into the American South marks a departure from the company's historical reliance on its dense store clusters in New York, Michigan, and Ohio. It positions the brand to compete more directly with regional coffee incumbents in warmer climates.

Consumers in the American South can expect increased access to the chain's menu as new locations are finalized. Prospective customers should monitor local commercial real estate developments for the arrival of new stores in their neighborhoods.

The takeaway

The brand's move highlights the potential for established northern food chains to scale in southern territories. Readers can anticipate more convenience options as the franchise works to secure high-traffic locations for its new properties.