TORONTO – The People’s Square in central Shanghai is home to the first Tim Hortons restaurant to open in China.

Tim Hortons, a unit of Restaurant Brands International, entered an exclusive master franchise joint agreement with Cartesian Capital Group in 2018 to establish restaurants in China. The People’s Square restaurant is the first of 1,500 locations planned for the Chinese market.

The company is launching new food and beverage items unique to the market, including basil chicken, coldwater shrimp and Montreal style beef sandwiches and chicken Caesar laffa wraps. Chicken and roasted pumpkin, and beef and roasted zucchini salads are available for lighter fare.

“We’re excited to bring the iconic Tim Hortons brand and a piece of Canada around the globe,” said Alex Macedo, president, Tim Hortons. “China is an attractive growth market and we can’t wait for guests to try our classic favorites and some new offerings crafted specifically to the Chinese market.”

Tim Hortons now has more than 4,800 locations in Canada and around the world including the United States, Mexico, Europe, the Philippines, the Middle East and now China.

View slideshow of first Tim Hortons in China.