Double Double: How Tim Hortons Became a Canadian Way of Life, One Cup at a Time

by Douglas Hunter

Everywhere we look, 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, dot street corners and highway rest stops nationwide. They have not only become meeting places for regular Canadians, but also a must-visit for our campaigning politicians. For many Tim’ s lovers, this chain has established an undying connection to what it means to be Canadian.

Double Double is the first book to look at the company from a wide angle, from the life of co-founder, Tim Horton, to the growth of the 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 also reveals how the franchising operation works, how the company has become an important element of Canadian politics, the American expansion of the chain and why Canadians are so dedicated to its menu. Double Double also examines the many challenges Tim Hortons is facing in maintaining its status as one of Canada’ s most respected consumer brands in an increasingly competitive business.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Business, History

378 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Go to my website to learn more about my work.
In addition to being a writer and graphic artist, I hold a PhD in history (2015) from York University. I'm currently completing a book on the early career of Canadian landscape artist A.Y. Jackson, covering his formative years leading to the founding of the Group of Seven and his experiences as a soldier and war artist in the First World War. Hopefully, it will be out in 2021.

Reviews

[Shannon Gebers · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY good book for every Canadian to read, eh?

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid history of Tim Hortons that at times I fond weighty with numbers, stars and business jargon. A number of the chapters take interesting looks at elements of the Tim’s business that I hadn’t thought of.

[Jim MacKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carefully researched and backed up by facts and figures, historian Douglas Hunter presents a history of Canada’s iconic restaurant chain that is both informative and engaging. From the opening of the first store in Hamilton, Ontario to the trials of international expansion, the book provides an in-depth look at the business dealings of founders Tim Horton, Jim Charade, and Ron Joyce that turned a hockey player’s dream into a symbol of Canadian patriotism.

[Yamato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked it up at the library, wanting to now how the Coffee chain got it's famous start.

Learnt a lot about Tim Horton as a person/hockey player. Firstly, did not know he was such a talented player. Of course I knew that he played many years in the NHL but not at the elite player that he was. Also learned how difficult it was to live a life after hockey. The 1960's were nothing like the million dollar grossing players that are in the NHL today. Tim was constantly "hustling" to keep side businesses on the go.

The early beginnings with Jim Charade and Ron Joyce. The long relationship with Ron Joyce and the legal battle after the death of Tim between Ron and Tim's widow, Lori. It is unfortunate that the legal battle brought publicly all the personal issues that Tim had drug/alcohol, and his death is such an inappropriate end to the life of a great man.

Did not know that location #0 was in Hamilton and targeted the steel workers on their shifts. The first half of the book was so interesting as Timandjim grew to the corporate machine that Tim's is today. Including the franchise/franchisee operations and the parbake system that went through quite a legal battle.

The second half of the book was not that interesting for me. It read as a timeline of events without much clear purpose. The attempt and failure to expand in the US (especially Manhattan). The struggle to gain market share in the US, QSR's changing their interiors to attract customers, the Obesogenic environment, how Tim's became a Canadian political chess piece between the Conservatives and Liberals, The MacDonald's attack on the coffee industry along with Keurig and the single cup options.

Overall, enjoyed the first half, and could have skipped the second.

[Lawrie Maris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book...tells about the beginning and growth of the Canadian iconic business. At times it becomes repetitive and drags along.

[Jenn Foley · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 6%

I think I would have really enjoyed this book if I read it as an assignment when I was in business school. But to me, it reads too much like a textbook to be enjoyable as a pleasure read.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Horton wasn't named Tim. Rather, he was Miles Gilbert Horton and Tim was a nickname his mother gave him. Douglas Hunter has written a rare business page-turner as he unearths all sorts of interesting facts from his research into iconic Canadian brand Tim Hortons. Through its messy beginnings as a group of chicken barbeque restaurants to its dominant place in the Canadian landscape, Hunter describes a company that is cautiously but hugely successful. There are fascinating descriptions of Tims' cultural status in Canada, its foray into the American market, and the frenetic competition of the quick service industry. Tim Hortons is both a Canadian success story and a story of Canada. Double Double tells these stories with insight and verve.

I'm on Twitter: @Dr_A_Taubman

[Seana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the author's style can be frustratingly repetitive, I really enjoyed this book. The latter half especially was informative and thought provoking. In addition to information about Tim Horton himself and the QSR landscape, I learned about branding, political association and even franchising pros and cons. Recommended Canadian reading.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-rounded look into the very human origins of such an iconic Canadian brand, as well as a reminder that even such icons will not always necessarily remain so.