Country Style

Country Style, formerly known as Country Style Donuts, is a Canadian coffee-shop and fast-casual food-service brand based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The chain opened its first location in Toronto in 1963 and grew rapidly during its first two decades. It reached approximately 50 outlets by 1974 and had opened about 100 stores within its first 15 to 20 years. During this early period, it was one of Canada's leading coffee-and-doughnut chains and briefly ranked ahead of Tim Hortons by outlet presence and market position. The business expanded beyond Ontario during the 1970s, entering Western Canadian markets including Vancouver and Calgary. It also expanded into Atlantic Canada in the early 1980s. These regional initiatives produced mixed results. Most Western and Eastern locations were later withdrawn, although some Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island outlets survived longer than the broader expansion. The brand consequently developed a primarily Ontario-centered identity, even as it continued to operate in selected markets elsewhere in Canada. Country Style faced increasing competitive pressure as Canada's coffee and quick-service restaurant sectors became more concentrated. By 2001, the company had closed roughly one quarter of its stores, while coffee remained the central driver of customer demand; historical company information cited in the brand's Wikipedia article indicated that more than 70 percent of purchases in 2001 involved coffee. The chain subsequently pursued renewed development through a combination of conventional restaurants and non-traditional locations embedded in gas stations, convenience stores, arenas, cinemas, and other host businesses. The brand broadened its offer beyond doughnuts and coffee. Its menu has included baked goods, oatmeal, soups, sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, breakfast items, sweets, and deli-style foods. In 2006, Country Style introduced a more contemporary positioning under the Country Style Bistro Deli image. The refresh involved a new logo, website, store design, and expanded deli menu intended to give new and remodeled locations a more upscale appearance while retaining the recognizable Country Style name and typography. MTY Food Group became increasingly important to the brand's ownership and operating structure. In 2009, MTY acquired the rights to the Country Style brand, then used at approximately 900 locations, in a transaction reported at $14.6 million in cash and debt. In 2011, MTY also acquired Mr. Sub for $23 million and combined it with Country Style in a holding structure called Country Style Food Services Holdings Inc. These transactions placed Country Style within MTY's broader Canadian multi-brand restaurant portfolio. Country Style has historically operated through both traditional standalone units and non-traditional franchised or licensed outlets. Reference material describes more than 420 non-traditional locations in 2006 and a total network of more than 1,000 Country Style and Country Style Bistro locations across Ontario, Western Canada, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. The exact current store count, ownership mix, and geographic footprint are not established by the supplied sources. In the Philippines, stores operating under a Country Style franchise were rebranded as New Bistro Deli in 2017. The brand has also participated in charitable activity, including a 2003 partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as its corporate charity of choice.

Country Style began operations in 1963 when its first store opened in Toronto. The business initially developed as a coffee-and-doughnut chain and expanded quickly in Canada. It had approximately 50 outlets by 1974 and opened about 100 stores during its first 15 to 20 years. At that stage, Country Style was described as Canada's leading coffee-and-doughnut establishment, ahead of Tim Hortons, which overtook it two years later. The company pursued geographic expansion during the 1970s and early 1980s. It entered Western Canada, including Vancouver and Calgary, and later moved into Atlantic Canada. The results were uneven. Most locations outside the core Ontario market were eventually closed or withdrawn, although Alberta outlets remained into the 1990s and some Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island locations survived. This history left Country Style with a strong Ontario base and a more limited presence in selected Canadian provinces. The brand's identity evolved as competition intensified. During the mid-1990s, its logo changed from a handwriting-style design to lettering resembling Palatino. By 2001, declining market share had led to the closure of approximately one quarter of its stores. Coffee continued to account for the majority of purchases, while the company sought to diversify its menu and distribution model. In 2006, Country Style introduced the Country Style Bistro Deli image. The repositioning included a new logo, a website, an expanded deli menu, and more contemporary store designs. The updated concept added or emphasized wraps, smoothies, breakfast products, salads, sweets, and other prepared foods alongside coffee and baked goods. The company also increasingly used non-traditional locations inside gas stations, convenience stores, arenas, cinemas, and other businesses. Historical reference material recorded more than 420 such locations in 2006, in addition to approximately 120 traditional Ontario stores at that time. MTY Food Group acquired the rights to the Country Style name in 2009 in a transaction reported at $14.6 million in cash and debt. The brand was then associated with roughly 900 locations. In 2011, MTY purchased Mr. Sub for a reported $23 million and combined the two businesses under Country Style Food Services Holdings Inc. This strengthened the brand's relationship with MTY's wider network of franchised restaurant concepts. Reference material describes the combined Country Style and Country Style Bistro network as exceeding 1,000 locations across Ontario, Western Canada, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. Because the supplied material does not provide a current official store directory or current operating figures, the present network size and geographic composition cannot be confirmed here. In 2017, Country Style stores in the Philippines were rebranded New Bistro Deli. The brand has also maintained a charitable profile: in April 2003, it partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as its corporate charity of choice.

• 2017

  Philippine franchise stores rebranded

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  Country Style franchise stores in the Philippines change their name to New Bistro Deli.

• 2011

  Mr. Sub transaction and corporate combination

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  MTY acquires Mr. Sub and combines it with Country Style in Country Style Food Services Holdings Inc.

• 2009

  MTY acquires Country Style brand rights

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  MTY Food Group acquires the brand rights in a transaction reported at $14.6 million in cash and debt.

• 2006

  Country Style Bistro Deli image introduced

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduces a refreshed logo, website, store design, and expanded deli-oriented menu.

• 2003

  Make-A-Wish charity partnership

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  Country Style partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as its corporate charity of choice.

• 2001

  Store closures accompany market-share pressure

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  The chain has closed approximately one quarter of its stores amid increased competition in Canada's coffee market.

• 1995

  Logo typography changes

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  During the mid-1990s, the logo shifts from a handwriting-style font to lettering resembling Palatino.

• 1974

  Network reaches approximately 50 outlets

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  Country Style is described as having about 50 locations and as a leading Canadian coffee-and-doughnut chain.

• 1963

  First Toronto location opens

  [1]Country Styleen.wikipedia.org

  Country Style begins operations with its first coffee-shop location in Toronto.

A Canadian coffee-shop and fast-casual franchise brand combining coffee, baked goods, breakfast, and deli-style meals, with a substantial presence in non-traditional host locations.

• Beverages · 1963

  Coffee

  Coffee has historically been the central product category for Country Style. Reference material indicates that coffee represented more than 70 percent of customer purchases in 2001, supporting the brand's traditional positioning as a Canadian coffee-shop chain.

• Bakery · 1963

  Doughnuts and baked goods

  Doughnuts and other baked goods were core elements of the original Country Style Donuts concept and remain associated with the brand's traditional coffee-shop format.

• Prepared food

  Breakfast and oatmeal

  The menu includes breakfast products and oatmeal, extending the brand beyond beverages and bakery items and supporting daypart sales in traditional and non-traditional locations.

• Fast-casual meals

  Soup, sandwiches, and salads

  Country Style serves prepared meal items including soup, sandwiches, and salads. These products are part of the broader fast-casual and deli-oriented offer associated with the Country Style Bistro Deli refresh.

• Fast-casual meals and beverages · 2006

  Wraps and smoothies

  Wraps and smoothies were among the products emphasized in the 2006 Bistro Deli repositioning, helping the chain present a broader and more contemporary menu than its original coffee-and-doughnut format.

• 2003Make-A-Wish corporate charity partnership

  Canada

  Country Style partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and identified it as the brand's corporate charity of choice.

  Source

• 2011

  Mr. Sub acquisition and combination with Country StyleM&A

  Background

  MTY was expanding its portfolio of Canadian restaurant brands.

  Action taken

  MTY acquired Mr. Sub for a reported $23 million and combined it with Country Style in Country Style Food Services Holdings Inc.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened the corporate structure associated with Country Style and linked the brand with Mr. Sub under MTY ownership.

  Reported acquisition price. $23 million (November 1, 2011)

  Source

• 2009

  Transfer of Country Style brand rights to MTYM&A

  Background

  Country Style required a broader ownership and operating structure within the Canadian franchised restaurant sector.

  Action taken

  MTY Food Group purchased the rights to the Country Style brand in a transaction reported at $14.6 million in cash and debt.

  Aftermath

  Country Style became part of MTY's multi-brand restaurant portfolio.

  Reported transaction value. $14.6 million in cash and debt (2009)

  Source

• 2006

  Introduce the Country Style Bistro Deli formatStrategy

  Background

  The chain was operating in an increasingly competitive coffee market and sought to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional coffee-and-doughnut identity.

  Action taken

  Country Style introduced a refreshed logo, website, contemporary store design, and expanded menu featuring deli foods, wraps, smoothies, breakfast products, salads, and sweets.

  Aftermath

  The Bistro Deli identity was intended to be phased into the wider store network, although the supplied material does not quantify its long-term effect.

  Source

1. 1Country Styleen.wikipedia.org