BEIJING (Reuters) - The operator of Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons in China said on Thursday it had forged a two-year partnership with Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) Group's grocery chain that will see the two launch co-branded products.
E-commerce giant Alibaba's Freshippo will begin sales next month at its stores, of which it has more than 300, as well as through its official app, it said in a statement. Products will include drinks such as Velvet Cocoa Coffee.
Tims China, whose backers include Tencent Holdings (OTC:TCEHY), opened its 500th outlet in China last month and has set its sights on having a "profitable network" of 2,750 stores in the country by 2026.
Even so it would still lag Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), the dominant foreign coffee brand in China with 6,000 stores and which also has a wide-ranging partnership with Alibaba.
Tims China was founded in 2019 by Cartesian Capital Group and Canada's Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR), which also owns the Burger King and Popeyes brands in addition to Tim Hortons.