OAKVILLE, ONT. — Tim Hortons has announced it will relocate its head office and Global Restaurant Support Centre to downtown Toronto later this year. The company currently is based in Oakville.

The company’s new headquarters in the Exchange Tower will encompass 65,000 square feet of space and will focus on innovation labs, idea sharing and creativity, the company said.

“This major metropolitan environment will provide a platform for us to further expand our leadership in Canada by bringing us closer to our business partners and the people on the front lines of tomorrow's industry trends,” said Alex Macedo, president of Tim Hortons. “This change is another Tim Hortons TimBitspart of our journey to build a stronger Tim Hortons and will enable us to harness the power of technology and innovation to better serve our guests and restaurant owners for years to come.

“Tim Hortons has been proud to call Oakville home for many years, so this decision was not one we have taken lightly. The town of Oakville has been incredibly supportive of us as we’ve grown over the last 50-plus years, and we will always be grateful. But, as we look at our bold plans for the future of Tim Hortons, downtown Toronto comes up as an ideal setting for us as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our guests.”