TDL is Tim Horton's Distribution Company. They are shippers/truckers/order takers in the warehouse that get the goods to the shoppes.
The coffee is 'blended and roasted' exclusively for the TDL group. Who it is that does the actual processing is a mystery..where the coffee is from originally is also a mystery..
from the Tim Hortons site:
Where does Tim Hortons get its coffee beans from?
Tim Hortons uses a premium blend of 100% Arabica beans from several of the world's renowned coffee-producing regions. Tim Hortons coffee is served within 20 minutes of brewing or it's not served at all. It's that quality and focus on "Always Fresh" that we think makes Tim Hortons coffee our customers' favorite.
Where can I get general information about coffee, the roasting process, etc.?
If you want to learn more about coffee and the coffee industry, a great resource is the Coffee Association of Canada's website at
www.coffeeassoc.com . You can find out about the history of coffee, the roasting process, coffee terminology and more.
Do you sell Fair Trade coffee?
It is very important to Tim Hortons that, in all of our dealings, we live up to being a good corporate citizen. We use only credible suppliers and work closely with these suppliers to ensure that coffee growers are treated fairly. Our suppliers practice responsible purchasing methods, dealing in turn with only the most credible growers. They are very involved in teaching growers the best methods of coffee growing, and visit the growing farms on a regular basis to ensure that good farming practices, as well as good human rights practices, are being implemented at these farms. Our own coffee experts also travel to the growing farms to ensure that proper conditions exist for both the coffee and the workers.
While we certainly agree in principle with the aims and goals of Fair Trade coffee, our dilemma is that the growers who belong to the Fair Trade "Certified Co-ops" cannot supply either the volume or the quality of beans that our chain requires for our special blend.
In addition, unlike other "specialty" coffee retailers who sell several different blends of coffee at store level, Tim Hortons has only one blend. So while we do not currently offer a Fair Trade branded coffee, we do pay a premium price for our beans and make every effort to ensure that only the best buying practices are used.