BC Business
Tim Hortons versus animal activists | BCBusinessTim Hortons experiences a hiccup in its plans to expand into the U.S. as animal activists protest the chain's choice of egg and pork suppliers.
As the very Canadian coffee chain looks to expand its holdings south of the border, the company is clashing with animal activists over its choice of pork and egg producers. I’ve often complained that the U.S. doesn’t have enough Tim Hortons or Tim equivalents. But Canada’s most beloved coffee chain is in the middle of a brewing battle as it plots further expansion south of the border.
Tim Hortons versus animal activists | BCBusinessTim Hortons experiences a hiccup in its plans to expand into the U.S. as animal activists protest the chain’s choice of egg and pork suppliers.
I’ve often complained that the U.S. doesn’t have enough Tim Hortons or Tim equivalents. But Canada’s most beloved coffee chain is in the middle of a brewing battle as it plots further expansion south of the border. The Humane Society of the United States is pressuring Tim’s to change its pork and egg producers to address animal cruelty issues. Currently, some of the farmers the coffee chain uses as suppliers confine hens and sows to tiny crates and cages during gestation. The gestation crates – often too small for pigs and hens to turn around in – are building a serious beef with U.S. animal rights activists and some American consumers. The Humane Society, a minor shareholder in the Tims franchise, plans to submit a proposal for a vote at the annual shareholder meeting in May to change the practices. Tims has already responded, saying the company plans to make long-term improvements in addressing the issue of animal living conditions. Directly addressing animal welfare is a relatively small price for Tim Hortons to pay to make inroads into the underdeveloped U.S. market. Especially for a company that sells eight out of every 10 cups of coffee here and aspires to do the same in the U.S.