- HE Jean-Philippe Linteau, Consul General of Canada, Founder & Chairwoman of the Apparel Group Mrs. Sima Ved, Chairman of the Apparel Group Mr. Nilesh Ved, CEO of Apparel Group Mr. Neeraj Teckchandani and CEO of Tim Hortons (ME) Hesham Almekkawi, inaugurated the grand opening ceremony of the new concept store at City Centre Mirdif.
- Tim Hortons continues to strategically expand its footprint across GCC and is on track to grow to 500 stores in the region.
- Featuring new elevated elements from the iconic Canadian brand, this new Café & Bake Shop welcomes its guests with a unique experience to enjoy a great cup of coffee and delicious food.
Apparel Group and AG Café, the master franchisee of Tim Hortons brand in the Middle East are proud to mark a major milestone with the opening of its 250th store at City Centre Mirdif, Dubai. HE Jean-Philippe Linteau, Consul General of Canada, Founder & Chairwoman of Apparel Group Mrs. Sima Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group Mr. Nilesh Ved, CEO of Apparel Group, CEO of Apparel Group Mr. Neeraj Teckchandani and CEO of Tim Hortons (ME) Mr. Hesham Almekkawi inaugurated the grand opening ceremony of the new concept store on 20th December.
Several influential personalities and members of the media attended the event, making it one of Tim Hortons’ most successful events. Live music filled the walls of the newest lifestyle locale, and everyone was beaming with excitement throughout the festivities.
AG Café, a joint venture entity owned by Apparel Group, a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate, and Gateway Partners, an emerging markets alternative investment firm, have collaborated to offer an innovative and unique experience for coffee lovers in City Centre Mirdif.
Tim Hortons’ latest concept store at City Centre Mirdif captures the signature warmth of the brand, reflecting the location and local style of the neighborhood, and offers a relaxing environment for customers seeking comfort and refreshment. The new coffee house introduced the distinctive and innovative experience it offers to Tim Hortons lovers, starting with its design that is inspired by nature, its elegant yet comfy interior, and pleasant lighting.
“Today’s milestone is a significant step toward our long-term potential to grow the brand, increase market share and strengthen our position as the leading retailer of Tim Hortons,” said Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group. “We continue to strategically expand our footprint across the country and are on track to grow to at least 500 stores for Tim Hortons in the region.”
Hesham Almekkawi, Tim Hortons CEO of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) said,” We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion and delighted to welcome everyone to the 250th Tim Hortons store located at City Centre Mirdif. Our customer’s experience is always at the forefront of our offering. With our new Concept store, we are able to delve deeper into innovation in the menu and offerings to enhance our customers’ experience. Our new concept store represents our values of passion and innovation. This is a major step in our expansion plan and further our presence in this country.”
More than 50 years ago, the F&B concept opened its doors in Hamilton, Canada on May 17, and the only thing available on the menu back then was coffee and donuts.
Fast forward to 2011, the iconic retail group, Apparel, has introduced the iconic Canadian Tim Hortons brand to the Middle East, opening its first location in Dubai. The brand was received with unprecedented excitement from both locals and expats due to its renowned history, quality of food, and its popularity as the largest coffee chain with more than 4000 locations in Canada.
The chain quickly became known in UAE for its freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked food, as its tagline “Always Fresh, Always Delicious” continually delivered this promise. In the years to follow, Tim Hortons expanded across the UAE where it became the cafe of choice for all.
Having set out strong growth plans for the coming years, the company has been dedicated to ensuring it brings exceptional experience and quality to customers where and when they need it. Its 250-strong network offers convenience to customers all over the GCC. Tim Hortons continues to strategically expand its footprint across GCC and is on track to grow to 500 stores in the region.
About Apparel Group LLC
Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate residing at the crossroads of the modern economy – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Today, Apparel Group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its 2,010 retail stores and 78 brands on all platforms while employing over 18,500+ multicultural staff.
Apparel Group has carved its strong presence in the GCC and expanded thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.
Apparel Group has created an omni-channel experience, operating brands originating from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The brands include leading names in fashion, footwear and lifestyle such as Tommy Hilfiger, Charles & Keith, Skechers, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale, Jamie’s Italian, Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot and Rituals.
Apparel Group owes its amazing growth to the vision and guidance of its dynamic Founder and Chairwoman, Mrs. Sima Ganwani Ved, who has taken the company from strength to strength since its inception in the last two decades.
TH Middle- East
In 2011, the iconic Canadian brand Tim Hortons made its way to the Middle East, opening its first Café & Bake Shop in Dubai, UAE. The brand has quickly expanded throughout the GCC, through a master franchise agreement with AG Café, the master franchisee of Tim Hortons brand in the Middle East.
Over the years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of not only Canadians, but people all over the world, with classics like our Original Blend coffee and the signature Iced Capp®, along with a variety of inspired donuts including our ever-popular Timbits®. Guests can now enjoy our premium coffees, delicious baked goods, made to order sandwiches and wraps, and many other beverages and food products at locations throughout the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, India, and Kuwait.
Tim Hortons strongly believes in delivering superior quality products and services for its guests and communities through leadership, innovation and partnerships. The restaurant chain is known for its freshly brewed coffee and food; its tagline, “Always Fresh, Always Delicious” rightly explains the brand policy.
