A donut's rise to fame: "Love Reese to Pieces™ Donut" now available at Tim Hortons

-2014 winner of Duelling Donuts makes debut in Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada for a limited time-

OAKVILLE, ON, July 15, 2015 /CNW/ - After almost 77,000 entries, careful judge deliberation and thousands of Canadian votes, one donut stood out as a clear winner of the 2014 Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest: Love Reese to Pieces™.  Until now, the donut had only been tasted by a select few, but that is about to change. The Love Reese to Pieces™ Donut is now available at participating Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada for a limited time. Filled with creamy custard, covered in chocolate fondant and topped with chopped peanuts and mini REESE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS, Love Reese to Pieces™ is the first peanut butter and chocolate donut to appear on the Tim Hortons restaurant menu in Canada.

"From the overwhelming positive response from Canadians who voted for the Love Reese to Pieces™ donut last year, we know there are a lot of guests who wanted to see the classic flavours of peanut butter and chocolate brought to life in a donut," says David Clanachan, President & COO, Tim Hortons Canada. "Reese is an iconic brand, and for decades Canadians have been enjoying its delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  We're excited to finally bring together the great taste of REESE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS with our classic Tim Hortons donuts for a truly delectable treat that we know our guests will love."

As the new donut hits Tim Hortons restaurants, the search for the next great donut is in full swing. The third annual Duelling Donuts contest is now underway, and this year Canadians are asked to submit family-recipe inspired donut creations at DuellingDonuts.ca until July 21, 2015. Eight contestants will be chosen to present their donuts to a celebrity panel of judges including deadmau5, Jann Arden, and Sophie Tweed-Simmons. The judges will narrow the field down to four semi-finalists, and on August 19, 2015, Canadians can cast their vote to decide which two donuts they want sold in Tim Hortons restaurants in 2016, before an ultimate winner is chosen and awarded a $10,000 grand prize.

"Winning the Duelling Donuts contest last year was a surreal moment, and now it feels like another dream come true to have my Love Reese to Pieces™ donut available at Tim Hortons restaurants across the country," says Glencoe Ontario's Jennifer Brown ,creator of the winning 2014 Duelling Donut. "The idea for this donut came to me in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep.  I just started experimenting with ingredients I love, and the Love Reese to Pieces™ donut was born!"

Tim Hortons fans can share their donut favourites throughout the contest by joining the conversation on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/timhortons, or following on Twitter @TimHortons and Instagram @TimHortons and tagging their photos and comments with #DuellingDonuts.

Tim Hortons^® Overview
Tim Hortons, part of Restaurant Brands International, is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products. As of April 27, 2015, Tim Hortons had 4,724 system wide restaurants, including 3,773 in Canada, 892 in the United States and 59 in the Gulf Cooperation Council. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

About Restaurant Brands International
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with approximately $23 billion in system sales and over 19,000 restaurants in nearly 100 countries and U.S. territories. Restaurant Brands International owns two of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands - TIM HORTONS® and BURGER KING®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees, and communities for over 50 years. To learn more about Restaurant Brands International, please visit the Company's website at www.rbi.com.

SOURCE Tim Hortons

Image with caption: "Tim Hortons introduces the Love Reese to Pieces™ Donut, winner of the 2014 Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest, filled with a creamy custard, covered in chocolate fondant and topped with chopped peanuts and mini REESE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS. Available in participating restaurants across Canada for a limited time. (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150715_C9153_PHOTO_EN_43999.jpg

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Hailey DeDominicis
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