Dunkin' Returns to Canada to Face Tim Hortons Again
Dunkin' is heading back to Canada, eight years after it gave up on a market it couldn't crack. The coffee chain, owned by Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, said it has signed a deal with Foodtastic to open "hundreds" of locations across the country.
Foodtastic, which owns Freshii and runs 27 brands and more than 1,200 locations in Canada, already operates Inspire's Jimmy John's sandwich shops there. Both sides pointed to that track record.
"Dunkin's international footprint continues to thrive, so we are excited to bring this iconic brand to Canada through a strong, like-minded partner," said Michael Haley, president of international at Inspire. He praised Foodtastic's record with Jimmy John's and added, "We value their shared commitment, operational expertise and long-term vision they bring to this partnership."
The reunion comes with baggage. Dunkin' once ran hundreds of Canadian stores, then spent years tangled in legal disputes with franchisees while Toronto-based Tim Hortons tightened its grip, and eventually exited in 2018. Tim Hortons now operates about 3,900 locations in Canada, a wall that will test Dunkin's second attempt.
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The two chains have long kept each other off home turf. Of Tim Hortons' 650-plus U.S. stores in 2025, only seven sat in Dunkin's New England backyard, and all seven were in Maine.
The timing matters for Inspire, which plans an initial public offering this year and counts Dunkin' as its largest holding. Dunkin' has grown at home, topping 10,000 U.S. locations by late 2025 and more than 14,000 worldwide. Its growth abroad has declined, though, with the count outside the U.S. falling 2% in 2025, according to Technomic.
Foodtastic founder Peter Mammas described the deal as a win. "Bringing Dunkin' back to Canada is a significant growth opportunity for Foodtastic and our franchise partners across the country," he said. "This agreement demonstrates the strength of our relationship with Inspire Brands and the confidence we have built together through our work with Jimmy John's in Canada."
Dunkin's U.S. count keeps climbing past 10,000. Among the most recent additions:
Arizona: Surprise
New Jersey: East Rutherford, Kearny
New York: Alfred Station, Bronx, Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, Liverpool, New York (South St), New York (W 34th St), New York (3830 Broadway), Oswego, Poughkeepsie, Richfield Springs
