House Found a Home in Tim Hortons
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THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR l THE SPEC.COM SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012 B1 RICK HUGHES, BUSINESS EDITOR [email protected] TRAVEL 905-526-3420 ANIMAL FARM Abandoned as piglets, sisters Judy and Patsy have grown to be 700 pounds apiece, and are fixtures at the Woodstock Sanctuary in New BUSINESS York state B4 House found a home in Tim Hortons Stoney Creek man who leads global coffee giant is farmer at heart MEREDITH MACLEOD The Hamilton Spectator Paul House is fond of saying he’s just a peach farmer from Stoney Creek. He tells that to colleagues, em- ployees and friends. He says it in high-powered board meetings and while making small talk with strangers. It’s true, but House is also CEO of Tim Hortons, Canada’s largest food service chain and arguably, the country’s most iconic company, whose double double, Timbits and Roll Up the Rim are fixtures in the lexicon. No matter that the chain brought in $2.9 billion in revenue in 2011, employs more than 100,000 people in more than 4,000 restaurants, commands 62 per cent of the coffee market in Canada and that House is widely credited with guiding the company’s rapid expansion over JOHN RENNISON, THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR the last two decades. Paul House, a Hamilton native, is taking an encore run at leading Canada’s leading food service chain. House still defines himself as a hard-working farmer. with shareholders and left in 2011. He can’t stay out of the restau- team” among them. He also says he takes pride in see- Yet it’s somehow poetic the com- House was asked to return as in- rants, either. Even in retirement, he “How privileged I am to run a ing those he’s hired or hand-picked pany has been taken to a worldwide terim CEO. dropped by franchises to scope out company this size. I’m thankful for as franchisees do well. behemoth by someone who grew He says he didn’t really think service and compared it to other the start (co-founder) Ron (Joyce) “That’s measurable success, just up where the chain itself was born twice about it, even though he’ll be food chains. He still does it, check- gave me. I owe a lot to him,” he says. like farming.” and raised. Between 2006 and 2011, 69 in the fall. He has plenty to keep ing to see if staff are smiling and But House allows that he is proud Though leading a multi-billion- total revenues grew 61 per cent. him busy, too, including a cottage at how fast cars are zipped through of how hands-on he is. The chain dollar company that is subject to House is described by those who Lake Erie, hunting, fishing, travel- the drive-thru. recently rolled out its double-dou- constant scrutiny from the public, know him as a focused, steady hand ling and stints on several boards, “The lifeblood of this business is ble drive-thrus, a concept piloted in shareholders and media alike guiding a train no one envisioned including Brock University and Pet in the stores,” says House. “You Hamilton in which there are two or- might seem a long way from the an- would become a speeding bullet. Valu. But he’s a farmer, after all, and can’t run a business from the corner dering lanes that funnel into one onymity of farming, it’s clear House zzz they don’t retire. office. You have to be out to under- lane for pickup. often reflects on his roots. Decked out in a bright green “I love my job. When I did come stand what’s going on.” Staff in a newly opened Toronto While cutting the ribbon on a T-shirt in honour of Tim Horton’s back to work full time, my daughter His reconnaissance missions are location with the new drive-thru Tim Hortons location in Dubai last Camp Day, the CEO is smiling and said, ‘Dad, you treat it like it’s your a bit like the TV show Undercover were falling over each other in the fall, he was thinking of his father, shaking hands in a packed Buffalo baby. It’s time to give it up and enjoy Boss, where CEOs work incognito service area, leading to long lineups who died in 1993, and his mother, location. life.’” beside employees to get a sense of of cars. The counters were reconfig- who followed in 1998. For the customers, the draw is But working is what he loves, what needs to change. ured at a cost of $50,000 and volume “What would they think of me Bills receiver Fred Jackson or punt- says the father of a son and daugh- He chuckles when public affairs immediately doubled. doing this?” House found himself er Brian Moorman, who are volun- ter and grandfather of three. director David Morelli offers that “People might be surprised that wondering. teering behind the counter on this “Quite frankly, people who love the producers of the Canadian ver- the CEO is involved in that but you “Dad never left Ontario in his life. day when coffee proceeds help send retirement didn’t like working.” sion have asked House to be on the have to be. I spent three to four I was travelling all over Canada and underprivileged kids to one of the House says he’ll stay through show. Tim Hortons staff knew months on the road in the early he always wanted to hear my company’s camps. 2013 and even beyond, if necessary. House wouldn’t go for it; he’s too years. That’s where I learned this stories.” But for franchisees and staff, the He’s heavily involved in finding or unassuming and doesn’t like business.” House grew up on a farm on real celebrity is Paul House, mak- grooming a new CEO. attention. In those early days, House could Queenston Road between Highway ing an encorein the top job. This man loves everything about zzz concentrate on running the compa- 20 and Grays Road, a section unrec- He was the CEO of the company Tim Hortons, including its prod- He deftly swipes away any at- ny in the background while Joyce ognizable as farmland now. In 1960, from 2006 to 2008. Then, after a to- ucts. He reluctantly confesses to tempt to give him credit for the acted as its public face. his family moved to Mount Albion tal of 23 years at the doughnut giant, drinking six cups of coffee a day company’s success: But when Joyce sold to Wendy’s Road and rented farms, primarily he retired, staying on as chairman. and that he loves all doughnuts, “The hero here is the company, in 1995, and then exited his role, growing peaches, cherries and veg- Don Schroeder took over the corner particularly apple fritters and sour not me” and “No company is built House was forced to step into the etables. office, but soon fell out of favour cream glazeds. around one person; we have a great forefront. Mother continues // B2 New waterfront eatery hosts job fair Battle brewing in toy building sets Part of two-restaurant The new eatery will offer a 350- tio to create two restaurants at the MONTREAL A battle could be shap- the products customers are looking seat waterfront patio overlooking centre. The other is to feature Ital- ing up in the construction toy aisles for to further expand the construc- development at Pier 8 Pier 8, a patio bar seating 40, and ian cuisine in a fine-dining as Canadian toy maker Mega tion category, the toy industry’s fas- outdoor stage for live music and five environment. Brands takes a run at industry lead- test growing segment. Hamilton’s newest waterfront at- private cabanas. Sarcoma is one of a number of de- er Lego by introducing a series of The Montreal-based company is traction is planning a hiring fair. The planned menu has steak and velopments along the waterfront, new products appealing to young counting on new construction toys, Sarcoma Restaurant and Bar, smoked meats such as brisket. It including an expansion of the exist- girls, boys and adult collectors. and a resurgence in its stationery which is taking over the old Discov- will change with the seasons. ing Williams Fresh Café, an ice North American retailers are and activities business to continue ery Centre on the waterfront, will The new restaurant is owned by cream stand, a display area for the cautious about adding untested its turnaround. Much of the hope is be interviewing potential staff this three Hamiltonians who, so far, Bay Area Restoration Council and brands in the face of a weak Christ- centred on courting girls with the weekend between noon and 3 p.m. have not identified themselves. Green Venture. mas buying season and continuing introduction of building sets based at the restaurant, 57 Discovery Dr. They are in the midst of redevelop- The federal government closed softness early in the year. on the iconic Barbie brand early Resumes can also be submitted ing 8,000 square feet of interior the Discovery Centre in 2010. But Mega Brands CEO Marc Ber- next year. online at http://www.sarcoa.ca/ space and a 12,000-square-foot pa- The Hamilton Spectator trand said Friday the company has The Canadian Press STORES FLYERS DEALS COUPONS BROCHURES CATALOGUES CONTESTS PRODUCTS STORES FLYERS DEALS COUPONS BROCHURES CATALOGUES CONTESTS PRODUCTS STORES FLYERS DEALS COUPONS BROCHURES CATALOGUES CONTESTS PRODUCTS STORES FLYERS DEALS COUPONS ✁ SAYS MY CONTEST SAVE TIME.