Tim Hortons Has Just Released Chobani’s Oat Milk In Over 4,000 Stores Across Canada

Tim Hortons, Canada’s largest quick-service restaurant chain, has added vegan oat milk from Chobani to its more than 4,000 stores across the country. Chobani’s oat milk is also gluten-free and available at Tim Hortons Canada as part of any hot or iced beverage.

“We’re happy to be serving Chobani oat beverage and giving our guests another option so they can personalize their coffee and other beverage orders just how they like it,” stated Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons.

Chobani’s oat milk is also available at participating Tim Hortons stores as part of two limited-time beverages: Cinnamon Caramel Oat Latte and Cinnamon Caramel Oat Cold Brew. Tim Hortons verified that both drinks are free of animal products in a statement, but cautioned that cross-contact with ingredients at the restaurant level may occur.

Chobani Moves Into Oatmilk

Chobani was known for its Greek-style yogurt and only produced dairy-based items until recently. The brand, on the other hand, debuted its first plant-based product line in January 2019. Chobani’s inaugural vegan line had five yogurt varieties (Blueberry, Peach, Slightly Sweet Plain, Strawberry, and Vanilla) and four drink flavors made with cultured coconut cream (Mango, Slightly Sweet Plain, Strawberry, and Vanilla Chai).

Chobani expanded its plant-based product portfolio in November 2019 with the launch of The World of Chobani Oat, a platform that investigates the potential of oat-based products. Chobani debuted a line of oat-based yogurts and beverages, as well as creamers, oat milk-based blended coffee beverages, and seasonal Oat Nog, under this brand. The Oat Drink Barista Blend was created to mimic the properties of steamed whole milk in coffee.

“Our oat beverage is a perfect pairing for their coffee and tea drinks…Tim Hortons is a great partner and we’re proud to be their oat beverage of choice in restaurants all across Canada,” said Peter McGuinness, Chobani President and Chief Operating Officer.

Plant-Based At Tim Hortons

Chobani’s oat milk joins Tim Hortons’ other two plant-based milk options on the menu: almond and soy (at select locations). Tim Hortons waited until 2020 to add almond milk to its national menu, whereas competitors like as Starbucks did it years earlier. After years of customer petitions and a trial run in its Toronto innovation café, the company made the decision.

In terms of food, the company has previously dabbled with plant-based options. Tim Hortons added the Beyond Breakfast Sausage to its menu in May 2019 at certain locations as part of three items: a wholly plant-based Beyond Meat Vegan Sandwich, a vegetarian Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich, and a Beyond Meat Farmers Breakfast Wrap. By June 2019, Tim Hortons had added the vegan Beyond Breakfast Sausage to its menu across Canada, but it was only available in British Columbia (BC) and Ontario (which has the most Tim Hortons outlets of any province in Canada) by September of the same year.

In 2019, the chain experimented with limited-time lunch choices made with Beyond Burger (its first-ever burger option) and vegan JUST Egg at a few locations. Tim Hortons withdrew Beyond Meat items from their menu in January 2020, significantly reducing its plant-based selections.

Source: “TIM HORTONS JUST LAUNCHED CHOBANI’S OAT MILK AT MORE THAN 4,000 LOCATIONS ACROSS CANADA” by VegNews