Tahini’s Restaurants, Canada’s fastest-growing Mediterranean fusion chain, continues to expand and Omar Hamam, its Co-founder and CEO, has found an unlikely but lucrative ingredient in his restaurant group’s business recipe—Bitcoin.
In an interview with Retail Insider, Hamam shared the bold decision the company made during the height of the pandemic to convert part of its cash reserves into cryptocurrency.
“There was a lot going on with COVID, and the instability of the Canadian dollar—it was very unpredictable,” said Hamam. “They were printing money like crazy. And we thought, well, printing money has never been a good idea throughout history.”
Looking for a hedge against inflation, the company turned to Bitcoin in 2020 as a treasury reserve asset.
“You’re not just battling the day-to-day challenges of running a business—work, competition—you’re also battling inflation,” said Hamam. “So, we decided to hold our reserves in Bitcoin.”
Hamam called the move “an amazing idea,” crediting his brother’s advocacy of Bitcoin and inspiration from companies like MicroStrategy.
“We were following MicroStrategy—Michael Saylor, if you know him. That’s what he did, and he did very well. So we thought, let’s preserve our value in Bitcoin.”
The decision has paid off handsomely.
“We’ve done something like 300 to 400% returns on our Bitcoin since we invested, which is huge. Imagine putting in $100 and getting $400,” said Hamam. “It’s definitely been a good investment for us.”
But Hamam is quick to note the volatility.
“With Bitcoin, you have to understand—it’s a roller coaster. It’s not for the weak-hearted. But if you believe in it and wait through the ups and downs, it goes up over time. You just need patience.”
Tahini’s has made Bitcoin part of its ongoing strategy.
“Every month, we take some money and put it into Bitcoin. That’s the strategy,” said Hamam. “Any Bitcoin advocate will tell you—buy consistently, regardless of highs or lows. It averages out over time.”
The strategy has also started influencing operations and franchising.
“Well, we don’t accept Bitcoin as payment in-store—yet. We’d love to, but it’s not available right now in Canada,” said Hamam.
Instead, the company has partnered with Bitcoin ATM providers.
“Some of our restaurants have Bitcoin booths where customers can buy Bitcoin. Not all—it’s voluntary for franchisees. And they can choose to be paid in dollars or Bitcoin,” he said. “If they choose Bitcoin, it can grow in value over time.”
The cryptocurrency strategy has brought financial stability to the brand.
“When our cash reserve builds up—and it did because of Bitcoin—it gives you the stability that you need through the turmoils of any business.”
Tahini’s currently operates exclusively in Canada but is making its first move across the border.
Rockford, Illinois is the company’s first location south of the border.
Bitcoin is part of the long-term vision for U.S. expansion too.
“Once we open more stores in the States, we’d love to offer Bitcoin as a payment option for customers. That’s the plan,” he said. “Right now we’ll only have one location, but more are in the pipeline.”
Tahini’s is a unique, category leading quick service restaurant group founded in 2012 and currently operating more than 60 locations across Canada, in addition to operating Tahini’s Kitchen within select FreshCo locations, a Sobey’s banner, and offering a selection of Tahini’s retail packaged products through select grocers. The brand has been fueled by nearly 2 billion views across all of its social media channels and is preparing for rapid growth across Canada and internationally.
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