Tim Hortons looks at Chinese coffee drinkers with Tencent Investment – TechCrunch

Canadian Coffee and Donut Chain Tim Hortons obtained a truck partner to drive its expansion in China. The company announced in its social media account (in Chinese) On Tuesday he raised funds from Chinese gaming and social media giant Tencent, without revealing the magnitude of the revenue.

Tim Hortons did not immediately respond to Heaven32's request for comment. A Tencent spokesperson declined to comment on the investment.

55-year-old Canadian coffee chain entered China in February 2019

. With Alibaba already used by Starbucks, its rival Tencent has become an obvious ally for Tim Hortons. The coffee company said the new capital will go towards the creation of digital infrastructure, such as a Mini application based on WeChat,

and open more windows. It currently has about 50 locations in China, most of which are in Shanghai, and aims to reach 1,500 stores without specifying a deadline for the plan.

In recent years, investors and businesses have fought to transform a nation of tea drinkers into coffee consumers by merging online and offline retailing. Starbucks pale with Alibaba in a series of "new retailer" efforts, including the benefits of shared membership between the two, delivered by Ele.me of Alibaba, sort by voiceand a distribution partnership with the omnichannel supermarket of Alibaba, Hema. The arrival of Luckin Cafe, which recently found itself wrapped in a accounting scandal, It was digital from day one and focuses on ordering apps and delivering in 30 minutes.