Tim Hortons, Cold Stone to Open Co-Branded Stores

Scottsdale, Ariz. Tim Hortons Inc. and the parent of Cold Stone Creamery said Friday they will team up to create up to 100 co-branded stores that will offer customers both ice cream and coffee shop fare.

Tim Hortons and privately owned Kahala Corp. said they will co-brand up to 50 stores in each chain in the United States by this spring.

Tim Hortons, one of the largest quick-service chains in Canada, specializing in coffee and baked goods, operates more than 500 locations in the United States. The chain has a steady business during the morning and lunchtime hours while Cold Stone drives "significant customer traffic and sales in the evening market," the companies said.

The companies said they recently co-branded two existing Tim Hortons locations in Rhode Island with positive results.

Existing Cold Stone and Tim Hortons locations in Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut will be identified and reconfigured to offer both brands, the companies said.