Ice Cream Wars Come to Toronto

- Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery open another Toronto location; Grand Opening proceeds donated to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada -

TORONTO, May 17 /CNW/ - Cold Stone Creamery celebrates another Grand Opening in Toronto on Tuesday, May 18, giving away fresh, premium ice cream. The sweet treat will help make dreams a reality for children with high-risk life-threatening illnesses, as the store at 1094 Bloor Street West in Toronto will donate 100 per cent of ice cream proceeds tomorrow to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Tim Hortons expects to open up to 60 Cold Stone Creamery outlets this year, including several in the Toronto region, and take a bite out of the $350-million ice cream market in Canada, where approximately 100 million servings are sold annually in quick service restaurants.

The store at 1094 Bloor Street West will host the grand opening celebration tomorrow from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The first 200 guests will receive a premium customized Like It size Signature Creation from Cold Stone Creamery. A number of special guests will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, including Frances Makdessian of Children's Wish, The Toronto Raptor and Raptors Dance Pak.

"Offering the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience to our customers has been a dream come true for us," said Amit Seth, Tim Hortons store owner at 1094 Bloor Street West. "We are honoured to share our celebration with The Children's Wish Foundation as they endeavor to fulfill hundreds of wishes for deserving children each year."

"We are extremely gratified to be a part of this wonderful celebration" said Sandi Hancox, Ontario Chapter Director, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. "Efforts such as this one will help to ensure that all eligible children living with a life-threatening illness will receive their most heartfelt wish."

Cold Stone Creamery customers choose from original ice cream, yogurt or sorbet flavours like mouthwatering Cake Batter, Cheesecake, Coffee or Cinnamon Bun flavours, and add mix-ins such as nuts, fruit, brownies, cookie dough, graham cracker pie crust or brand name candies, to create the ultimate personalized indulgence mixed on a chilled granite stone.

There is virtually no limit to the number of possible creations. In fact, a Harvard Business School doctoral student found that there are more than 11.5 million different Creation combinations.

Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery first announced their co-branding initiative in 2009. Co-branded restaurants offer Cold Stone Creamery's super-premium ice cream, cakes, shakes and smoothies alongside Tim Hortons menu items including, premium coffee, fresh baked goods, homestyle soups and sandwiches.

About Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery delivers The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience(R) through a community of franchisees who are passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in each store, and then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cold Stone Creamery is subsidiary of Kahala Corp, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world, with a portfolio of 12 quick service restaurant brands. Cold Stone Creamery operates more than 1,450 locations in 12 countries worldwide.

For more information on Cold Stone Creamery, visit the brand's web site at www.coldstonecreamery.com. For more information about Kahala, visit the company's web site at www.kahalacorp.com.

About The Children's Wish Foundation

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Since 1984, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to 15,000 children and their families.

This year, the Foundation expects to grant 1,000 new wishes as it commemorates 25 years of service across Canada. The Foundation has never refused a wish to an eligible child, and with the help of volunteers and generous donors, is able to grant nearly three wishes every day. Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family.

The Foundation is a grassroots charity with chapters in every province and territory. For information on Children's Wish, log onto www.childrenswish.ca

About Tim Hortons Inc.

Tim Hortons is the fourth largest publicly-traded restaurant chain in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, flavoured cappuccinos, specialty teas, home-style soups, fresh sandwiches, wraps, hot breakfast sandwiches and fresh baked goods, including our trademark donuts. As of April 4th, 2010, Tim Hortons had 3,596 systemwide restaurants, including 3,029 in Canada and 567 in the United States. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

For further information: Alexandra Cygal, Manager, Public Affairs, Tim Hortons Inc., [phone], [email protected]