TORONTO – South Korean businesses appear to be capitalizing on the popularity of Canada’s favourite coffee chain.
During a recent trip to a South Korean market, Canadian Mike Elgar spotted a familiar name on packages of instant coffee. But upon closer inspection, Elgar realized the coffee was labelled “Tim Mortons” instead of Tim Hortons.
“I was a bit shocked and I had to laugh,” Elgar told The Toronto Star. “I was going to buy it for sure… but it was just generic (South Korean) instant coffee packs.”
This isn’t the first time a Tim Hortons knockoff has been spotted in South Korea.
In March, images of a South Korean coffee shop dubbed “Tim House” went viral. According to CTV News, a Canadian expat posted a picture of the coffee shop to Facebook, after noticing the sign looked oddly similar to Tim Hortons.
Of course, Tim Hortons does not operate in South Korea – the shop was a fake.
Tim Hortons, however, isn’t as amused by the knock offs.
“While we’re thrilled to see that the Tim Hortons brand is loved and recognized around the world, we’re always vigilant when it comes to protecting our intellectual property, especially as we expand internationally,” Michelle Robichaud, director of public affairs for Tim Hortons, told Global News.
“Our logo is representative of our commitment to quality, so even though we are not currently doing business in South Korea, we will continue to take the necessary steps to protect our trademarks.”
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