<P> Tim Hortons Inc. (known internationally as Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop, colloquially and corporately known as Timmys, Timmy, or Tims) is a Canadian - based multinational fast food restaurant known for its coffee and donuts . It is also Canada's largest quick service restaurant chain; as of December 31, 2016, it had a total of 4,613 restaurants in nine countries . </P> <P> The company was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton (1930--1974) and Jim Charade (1934--2009), after an initial venture in hamburger restaurants . In 1967, Horton partnered with investor Ron Joyce, who assumed control over operations after Horton died in 1974 . Joyce expanded the chain into a multimillion - dollar franchise . Charade left the organization in 1966 and briefly returned in 1970 and 1993 through 1996 . </P> <P> On August 26, 2014, Burger King agreed to purchase Tim Hortons for US $11.4 billion; the chain became a subsidiary of the Oakville - based holding company Restaurant Brands International on December 15, 2014, which is majority - owned by Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital . </P> <P> The chain's first store opened on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario, under the name "Tim Horton Donuts"; the name was later abbreviated to "Tim Horton's" and then changed to "Tim Hortons" without the possessive apostrophe . The business was founded by Miles G. "Tim" Horton, who played in the National Hockey League from 1949 until his death in a traffic collision in 1974 . Horton had an initial venture in hamburger restaurants . </P>

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