Pakistanis are queuing for hours to grab coffee and pastries from Canadian chain Tim Hortons, which opened its first outlet in the South Asian country this week just as its economic crisis took a turn for the worse. Inflation in January spiked to 27% year-on-year, the highest in more than a decade, and the government only has enough foreign reserves to pay for just over three weeks of imports.
All that hasn’t stopped scores of Pakistanis from thronging to the cafe since it opened on Saturday in Lahore’s DHA. According to a Pakistani food-blogger, Tim Hortons Lahore had the highest opening day sales since the brand’s inception in 1964.
Tim Hortons is owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc (RBI), a Toronto-based company that also owns other fast food brands including Burger King and Popeyes.
The news immediately sparked a social media debate, where users discussed issues like IMF bailouts, flour queues for the poor and overall outlook of the country in such times.
Tim Hortons is set to open another two outlets in Lahore, RBI said in a statement. Pakistani firm Blue Foods operates the franchise. Both companies declined to give any details about the outlet’s sales in the opening week.
Source: Geo TV
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