Tim Hortons drive-through sites to create up to 100 jobs

● Glasgow-based franchise opens new Falkirk site ● Two additional coffee shops set to launch in next year

Tim Hortons franchise companypizzacakeissettolaunch three new drive-through sites in Scotland on the back of a multi-million-pound funding package from HSBC UK.

Pizza Cake, the first franchise company for the Canadian coffee shop in the UK, expects to create up to 100 jobs in central Scotland to support the management, baking and customer service requirements at the new drive-through stores.

The Glasgow-based firm said it will use the fresh investment, which consists of new finance and a debt refinance, to secure “prime locations” and fund fit-out costs for the Tim Hortons sites.

The first of the trio of new stores is set to open today in Stenhousemuir, Falkirk, creating 35 jobs. Two further locations, still to be announced, will launch in 2019 and bring up to 65 new roles.

Pizza Cake owners Graeme and Lisa Tobias have operated Domino’s Pizza franchises in the west of Scotland and Northern Ireland for 14 years and own 15 Domino’s restaurants.

The business said that some of the HSBC funding will be used to support the continued growth of its Domino’s franchises, with plans to open two further restaurants in Scotland in the next year.

Pizza Cake opened its first Tim Hortons, best known for its “Timbits” donut holes, in Glasgow in 2017.

Last month, Pizza Cake opened the doors to Scotland’s first drive-through Tim Hortons restaurant.

Fans of the coffee shop queued for hours at the Paisley store, where the first two customers were granted a year’s supply of coffee.

The brand was founded in Canada by its namesake, a professional ice hockey player, in 1964.

Graeme Tobias said: “Tim Hortons has a fantastic reputation for providing great coffee and quality quick service food so we’re really excited to be the business’s first UK franchisee.

“Lisa and I turned to HSBC UK for support because we wanted to work with a bank with a strong track record in funding franchise operators. The bank’s team were able to get under the skin of our business and provided the support we needed to fund the future growth of both our restaurant businesses.”

Grant Bett, relationship director at HSBC UK in Scotland, said: “Graeme and Lisa run a successful franchise business in Scotland and Northern Ireland and are quick to act on opportunities for growth.

“We’re keen to support strong franchise businesses in Scotland and have a lot of expertise in providing funding packages that work for franchise growth.

“We look forward to seeing Pizza Cake bring new Tim Hortons and Domino’s locations to Scotland over the next year.”