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Tim Hortons popular 'Roll up the Rim' contest debuted in 1986. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Tim Hortons, which will join forces with Burger King in a US$11-billion deal, says preliminary sales for the third-quarter were up in both Canada and the U.S.

The doughnut and coffee chain says same-store sales were up 3.6 per cent in Canada and seven per cent in the U.S., referring to stores that have been open for at least a year.

Tim Hortons says it's releasing the information for the nine weeks ended Aug. 31 in connection with disclosure obligations under its recent deal with private equity firm 3G Capital and Burger King Worldwide.

The deal will create the world's third-largest fast-food company and the corporate headquarters of the new company will be in Canada.

As of June 29, Tim Hortons had 4,546 restaurants, including 3,630 in Canada, 866 in the United States and 50 in the Gulf Co-operation Council.

The coffee-and-doughnut giant opened its first-ever location in Hamilton in 1964.