Are you ready to defend your dough? Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest is back, with an all-star twist

- Eight contestants will have the opportunity to sell their donut to a panel of celebrity judges, including Jason Priestley and Jann Arden; the best pastry pitch wins $10,000 -

OAKVILLE, ON, July 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Donut lovers everywhere, get ready for dough business. Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest kicks off today and at the end of seven weeks, the creator of the next Tim Hortons menu item will be crowned - and they'll walk away with $10,000. New this year, eight finalists will have the opportunity to defend their dough in person to a panel of famous Canadians. Jason Priestley, is back to provide his donut expertise, and he's bringing Jann Arden, Anna Olson and Ben Mulroney to help determine the four finalists who will go on to compete for the grand prize, which will be decided by the voting public.

"Judging Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest last year was a donut day made in heaven, so I didn't have to think twice about coming back this year to eat more donuts and spend the day with Ben, Jann and Anna," says Jason Priestley. "Last year showed that Canadians go wild when it comes to donuts. I can't wait to see what people create this year. And, I should warn my fellow panelists: donut tasting is no easy task. Poking holes - no pun intended - in these great donuts isn't as easy as it seems."

Starting today, through August 1, 2014, donut fans can visit DuellingDonuts.ca to design their donut and make a case for why their virtual creation would make the next best donut on the Tim Hortons menu. Tim Hortons will provide weekly design themes to spark donut designers' creativity. At the end of the four-week submission period, eight finalists will be selected to be flown to Tim Hortons head office in Oakville, Ont., to pitch their pastry to the celebrity panel, and battle it out for a spot in the final four.

"With over 63,000 entries in our inaugural Duelling Donuts contest, we were amazed by the creativity of the entries, and we saw firsthand just how passionate our guests are about donuts," says Tammy Martin, Vice President Marketing, Food and Merchandise, Tim Hortons. "It inspired us to make year two of Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts bigger and better, and we think this year's contest has all the makings of a great event. With weekly design themes and even more ingredients to choose from, we're confident we're going to get some really different and daring submissions. Our all-star judging panel is really going to have their work cut out for them!"

On Monday, August 18, Tim Hortons will open up the polls and ask Canadians to decide which donut creation will be crowned champion. The winner will be awarded $10,000 cash and will have their donut added to the Tim Hortons menu later this year.

Tim Hortons fans can share their donut favourites throughout the contest by joining the conversation on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/timhortons, or following on Twitter @TimHortons and Instagram @TimHortons and tagging their photos and comments with #TimsDuellingDonuts.

Tim Hortons Inc. Overview
Tim Hortons is one of the largest publicly-traded restaurant chains in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products.  As of March 30, 2014, Tim Hortons had 4,524 systemwide restaurants, including 3,610 in Canada, 870 in the United States and 44 in the Gulf Cooperation Council. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

SOURCE: Tim Hortons