Tim Hortons releases 2nd annual sustainability and responsibility report

Making a True Difference™ for Individuals, Communities and The Planet - every day

OAKVILLE, ON, April 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Tim Hortons today released its second annual 2011 sustainability and responsibility report titled Making a True Difference™, outlining the company's fiscal year 2011 performance against goals and commitments set in 2009.

The company made firm commitments and reported results focusing on three sustainability pillars which include individuals, communities and the planet.

"Sustainability and responsibility is a key corporate priority for Tim Hortons and although we've had many initiatives in place for many years, this is only our second year formally reporting and sharing our performance publicly," said Paul House, Executive Chairman, President and CEO, Tim Hortons.  "We are continually looking at opportunities to enhance our performance and within this report we also share our next steps and future goals."

Highlights of the 2011 Making a True Difference™ report include:

Individuals

• Healthier menu options made available across product categories and increased communication of positive attributes and options within the Tim Hortons menu
  
  
• Continued focus on sodium reduction resulting in lowered sodium levels in hot beverages, muffins and deli meats
  
  
• 100 per cent response rate on guest enquiries received by Corporate Guest Services team

Communities

• Tim Horton Children's Foundation (THCF) welcomed 13,414 campers in 2011
  
  
• In 2011, THCF gave out 243 bursaries for post-secondary education worth $600,000 to graduates of the Youth Leadership Program
  
  
• Approximately $9.9 million was raised on Camp Day in 2011, benefitting the THCF
  
  
• $16 million invested in community initiatives across Canada and the United States
  
  
• Smile Cookie program raised $4 million for local charities across Canada and the United States
  
  
• Developed and implemented programs and initiatives within the Education, Employment, Empowering Youth and Economic Development pillars of "Horizons" - Tim Hortons Aboriginal Relations Program
  
  
• In 2011, the Tim Hortons Coffee Partnership performed more than 10,000 technical training demonstrations for project farmers, recycled and/or treated 80 per cent of water on project farms and successfully discouraged 100 per cent of farmers from using banned pesticides
  

The Planet

• The number of restaurants diverting our hot beverage cups and other paper packaging increased by 22 per cent in 2011 to more than 800 restaurants
  
  
• "Cup-to-Tray" program which recycles the company's hot beverage cups into take-out trays was launched in 156 restaurants in Nova Scotia
  
  
• Four restaurants were registered for LEED certification in 2011 and the company has set a goal for 30 additional restaurants for LEED certification by the end of 2016
  
  
• Achievement of a 6.7 per cent increase in fuel efficiency of the company's distribution fleet since 2008
  
  
• Animal Welfare Policy was revised and commitment made to source one per cent of system-wide eggs from enriched-cage hen housing systems as well as to encourage the pork industry to move away from using gestation crates over time
  

The full report can be found at sustainabilityreport.timhortons.com/index.html

Other report highlights include the company responding to the Carbon Disclosure Project and placing in the Top 5 disclosure scorers in Canada, and being added to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI). Tim Hortons was also awarded the 2011 Canadian Franchise Association Corporate Citizen Award.

In the creation of Tim Hortons' 2011 Making a True Difference™ report, the company followed the Global Reporting Initiative G3.1 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

About Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons is one of the largest publicly-traded restaurant chains in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots, specialty teas, fruit smoothies, home-style soups, fresh sandwiches, wraps, hot breakfast sandwiches and fresh baked goods, including our trademark donuts. As of January 1^st, 2012, Tim Hortons had 4,014 systemwide restaurants, including 3,295 in Canada, 714 in the United States and five in the Gulf Cooperation Council. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com

Video with caption: "Video: Learn more about Tim Hortons Coffee Partnership, a program that improves the lives and businesses of coffee farmers in regions where Tim Hortons sources coffee.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120405_C3514_VIDEO_EN_12003.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120405_C3514_PHOTO_EN_12003.jpg&clientName=Tim%20Hortons%20Inc%2E&caption=Video%3A%20Learn%20more%20about%20Tim%20Hortons%20Coffee%20Partnership%2C%20a%20program%20that%20improves%20the%20lives%20and%20businesses%20of%20coffee%20farmers%20in%20regions%20where%20Tim%20Hortons%20sources%20coffee%2E&title=&headline=Tim%20Hortons%20releases%202nd%20annual%20sustainability%20and%20responsibility%20report

Video with caption: "Video: Learn more about Tim Hortons' Cup-To-Tray program which recycles our hot beverage cups into take-out trays in Nova Scotia.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120405_C3514_VIDEO_EN_12004.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120405_C3514_PHOTO_EN_12004.jpg&clientName=Tim%20Hortons%20Inc%2E&caption=Video%3A%20Learn%20more%20about%20Tim%20Hortons%27%20Cup%2DTo%2DTray%20program%20which%20recycles%20our%20hot%20beverage%20cups%20into%20take%2Dout%20trays%20in%20Nova%20Scotia%2E&title=&headline=Tim%20Hortons%20releases%202nd%20annual%20sustainability%20and%20responsibility%20report

Video with caption: "Video: Learn more about how Tim Hortons is reducing its environmental footprint.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120405_C3514_VIDEO_EN_12005.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120405_C3514_PHOTO_EN_12005.jpg&clientName=Tim%20Hortons%20Inc%2E&caption=Video%3A%20Learn%20more%20about%20how%20Tim%20Hortons%20is%20reducing%20its%20environmental%20footprint%2E&title=&headline=Tim%20Hortons%20releases%202nd%20annual%20sustainability%20and%20responsibility%20report

PDF with caption: "Tim Hortons' 2011 Sustainability and Responsibility Performance Summary". PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/04/05/20120405_C3514_DOC_EN_12006.pdf

Media contacts: 

Alexandra Cygal, Tim Hortons
905-339-5960, [email protected]