The head of Tim Hortons says the iconic Canadian coffee chain plans to expand into a global brand by 2013.

CEO Don Schroeder said there's a growing international interest in Tim Hortons and he told the company's annual meeting Friday in Toronto that Tims' executives will pitch an international growth strategy to the board of directors next month.

A Tim Hortons location in Calgary is shown. The iconic Canadian brand plans to expand internationally, the company said Friday. (Kelsey Hipkin/CBC)

But Schroeder said the company will approach international expansion cautiously to avoid following other companies that have jumped into international markets too quickly and failed.

"While we have achieved iconic brand status in Canada … we are working hard to build that same brand equity in our core markets in the northeast and Midwest U.S.," Shroeder said.

Tim Hortons has 3,578 restaurants as of January 3, 2010, including 3,015 in Canada and 563 in the United States.

The chain opened 176 new locations across North America in 2009, including its first location in Manhattan. The company now has 11 locations across the five boroughs that make up New York City.

Tim Hortons already has 290 self-service kiosks in convenience stores in Ireland and England, and a number of locations in the U.S., including some military bases.

Schroeder said the Tims brand has become well-known among British and American soldiers through their store in Afghanistan and the plan includes expanding the chain's presence on U.S. army bases.

The chain also tested the concept of co-branded stores by signing a pact in February with U.S. firm Cold Stone Creamery that saw the opening of 100 such locations across the United States.