Tim Hortons 4Q profit rises despite unit closures

Tim Hortons Inc., the Oakville, Ontario-based bakery-café chain, managed to grow its net income in the Dec. 29-ended fourth quarter, even as its decision to end its co-branded relationship with Cold Stone Creamery in Canada and close a few dozen underperforming units in the United States dampened profitability in an otherwise robust quarter. The 4,485-unit chain’s same-store sales increases of 1.6 percent in Canada and 3.1 percent in the United States outperformed full-year gains