Tim Hortons now accepts Visa

TORONTO — As many as 100 head office employees are reported to have lost their jobs during ongoing restructuring at Tim Hortons Inc. as the company strives to realign its business structure. The recent layoffs, which come at the end of a particularly competitive year for the coffee and baked goods giant, include company veteran Stephen Johnston, senior vice-president of development, and David Morelli, director of public affairs, though the company would not confirm the exact number.

(ronnyg)

OTTAWA — The federal Opposition on Monday called on the Harper government to stop credit card companies from charging businesses higher fees for using premium cards. The call came as a federal competition tribunal prepared to rule on whether Visa and MasterCard are engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. Small business groups hope the tribunal will recommend that Ottawa forbid the major credit card companies from forcing retailers to accept cards that carry higher payment processing fees.

Revenue and profit at Tim Hortons Inc. were hindered by tough competition and restructuring charges in the fourth quarter, but the company expects to see a boost in sales this year from new lunch products and an overhaul of its drive-thrus. Revenue in the three months ended Dec. 31 rose thanks to the successful debut of a new Panini sandwich and single-serve Tassimo coffee line, climbing 4.1% to $811.6-million. The Panini platform is an important part of our strategy to grow our share in the lunch day part

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Food & Drink, Weird & Wonderful

ByGary Jakacky:Dunkin Brands (DNKN) and Tim Hortons (THI) (the Canada based equivalent coffee shop, named after the former Montreal Canadiens defenceman) provide their respective nation's working classes with similar menus of doughnuts, bagels, and other baked goods, washed down of course by coffee and, these days, gourmet beverages such as lattes and