Well, it’s official. 

Tim Hortons has opened its doors in Panama.

I have to admit that even though I’ve become a bit of a coffee snob over the years (double espresso, black, no exceptions), there’s something about the familiar yellow, brown, and red storefronts that take me right back to those cold Canadian mornings where I spent my youth.

We may agree or disagree on the quality of Tim's coffee...but to me, it is what it is… a vehicle for caffeine.

Despite my feelings towards Timmy’s, it’s undoubtedly a Canadian staple.

Travel to a foreign country and tell people you’re from Canada, and one in five is going to make a remark about Tim’s…. they may not have nailed the coffee bean, but they sure as hell are exceptional marketers.

I can't recall any specific moments off the top of my head, but I’d bet a good chunk of change that I’ve had video calls with my Canadian Private Clients in the last couple of years where, sure enough, someone’s red Tim’s cup makes an appearance. 

It’s like no matter how far I’ve travelled from my home country, I can’t escape that nostalgia of that darn red cup. 

It would appear that Tim’s is now making a play to attract business from the large swath of Canadians living here in Panama.

I imagine that, based on how many Canadians already reside here and the many more who are expected to flood into Panama in the coming years, is what has led Tim's to announce not just this one store in Panama… but rather 30 over the next 10 years.

This may not seem like a big deal, but I assure you, it is.

The level of market research and financial forecasting that a corporation like Restaurant Brands International (the parent company of Tim Horton’s, Burger King, Firehouse Subs & Popeyes) does before making a large-scale investment into a new country is vast. 

Simply put, the fact that RBI is betting big on Panama tells me that they, like me, understand that the Panamanian market is only going up. 

For my Canadian friends who will be joining us at the Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference this March in Panama, I’d like to ask you this: should I go ahead and have Tim’s coffee (and donuts, of course) at the conference OR better we stick with the hotel's caffeine offerings which I've been assured are quite good?

Whether you’re attending the conference to expand your international footprint or just want to come to Panama to meet like-minded people and explore your offshore options, at the very least, take a stop by the new Tim Hortons while you're here.

It's located in the Soho Mall here in Panama City, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Golden Tower, where the conference is being held.

If nothing else, you’ll get to see how local Panamanians run a Canadian institution, which in itself could make for an interesting story to tell your friends when you get back home.

Speak soon,

Mikkel

PS. The Conference kicks off in less than two months. If past data from my Birthday Party or our Expat Exploration + Investment Tours have told me anything about ticket sales, it is that the remaining VIP tickets will be sold out in a matter of weeks. The remaining general admission tickets will be gone before you know it, too, as it seems that making travel plans post-COVID has changed consumer confidence and thus, people are making plans closer to the date of their trips. That said, if you wait too much longer to get your ticket, you’ll miss out. It’s time for action, folks. See you in Panama this March. 

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