Canadian companies aren’t feeling much love. They were almost completely passed over in a new ranking of the world’s most loved companies.
Almost, because one very recognizable brand did make the list: Tim Hortons.
The coffee and doughnuts chain ranked 61st on APCO Insight’s list of the 100 “most loved” companies in the world.
The survey’s methodology looked at eight criteria to determine a person’s affinity to a company: admiration, approachability, curiosity, empowerment, identification, pride, relevance and understanding.
First place went to the Walt Disney Company, but the list is dominated by food makers (Kellogg’s, Hershey’s) and food retailers (Whole Foods, Subway restaurants).
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In a press release, Tim Hortons noted that it was the second highest-ranking “quick service restaurant” on the list, behind Subway at 32nd (McDonald’s ranked 69th in the survey).
“We have our loyal guests to thank for this honour,” Tim Hortons chief brand and marketing officer Bill Moir said.
But while Tim Hortons may be the darling of Canadian coffee-drinkers, American consumers aren’t feeling the love quite as much. The company has been struggling to gain a foothold in the U.S. market, and some investors in the company are urging executives to scale back their U.S. plans.