Bestore’s first Tims Express site was opened in the Qiaokou District of Wuhan on 14 December | Photo credit: Tims China

Tims China has opened its first Tims Express site in partnership with Wuhan-based Bestore, one of China’s largest snacks retailers. 
 

Small format Tims Express kiosks, typically 200-220sq ft in size, currently account for nearly 15% of Tims China’s total 756-store footprint. 

The first Tims Express site in a Bestore outlet was opened in the Qiaokou District of Wuhan on 14 December. Tims China and Bestore plan to open a further Tims Express in Wuhan before the end of the year, alongside a kiosk inside a Bestore store in Xi’an, Shaanxi, which will facilitate further Tims Express’ expansion into northwest China. 

“This collaboration will allow Tims China to leverage its brand potential to expand its offline presence and reach more consumers. The pair also stands to benefit from significant synergies thanks to this link-up between two such prominent players. The ‘coffee + snacks’ consumption scenario resonates substantially with both brands, with consumers set to benefit from the enhanced offerings,” a Tims China spokesperson told World Coffee Portal.

“We are very pleased to become a strategic partner with Tims China. Tims China’s professional international operation experience and rich local innovation concepts will be useful references and supplements for Bestore,” said Zhang Guoqiang, co-founder, Bestore. 

Founded in 2006, Bestore has scaled to more than 3,300 stores across 181 Chinese cities. 

Tims China credited the successful roll-out of its Tims Express concept as driving 27% year-on-year sales growth in June 2023.  

The coffee shop operator also has Tims Express partnerships with convenience store chain Easy Joy, real estate firm Century 21 and home appliance retailer Haier.