Jollibee hits 1,000 PH store milestone

Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado, 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, Jollibee Foods Corp. chair Tony Tancaktiong, CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong at the opening of Jollibee’s 1,000th PH store in BGC on July 3, 2017

Homegrown fast-food giant Jollibee has cemented its leadership in the local quick service restaurant industry with the opening of its 1,000th Philippine store in BGC central business district on Monday.

While growing the domestic store network of Jollibee – which accounts for about a quarter of the 4,000-store global network that the fast-food Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) plans to build this year – plans are underway to bring this flagship brand to new overseas markets like Japan, Australia and Malaysia.

JFC is also planning a big comeback for the flagship brand in Guam and expanding in the US and Canada with the opening of stores in Manhattan (US) and Toronto (Canada).

“The aspiration and dream is to really make Jollibee a truly global brand. Today we have 1,000 (Jollibee) stores in Philippines and close to 200 outside the Philippines,” JFC chief executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said in an interview during the opening of the newest store at the BGC Triangle Drive in Taguig on Monday.

Jollibee’s 1,000 milestone branch in Taguig is the sixth Jollibee store in BGC and the 16th in the city of Taguig.

The store features the latest modern tropical design concept designed to appeal to all customers, especially the younger crowd. It has a seating capacity of 250 and two spacious party areas as well as interactive tables to entertain children. It is one of the Jollibee stores that operates 24/7 as it caters to the office and residential communities in BGC central business district. Creative murals also adorn the new store.

Globally, JFC is also expanding the flagship brand Jollibee as well as its other brands. As of end-May, JFC had 3,555 stores worldwide across 12 brands in 17 countries. Other brands include the likes of Chowking, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Greenwich and even foreign brands like popular noodle chain Yonghe King in China.

For its overseas business, JFC is bringing the Jollibee brand to Japan by 2019, initially catering to a growing number of caregivers seen to be employed in this country, which is grappling with an ageing population.

In Toronto, Jollibee hopes to open two stores by the end of this year or next year, after earlier entering Canadia via Winnipeg. The first store in Manhattan (Jollibee has an existing store in Queens, New York) is expected to open by the end of this year.

Jollibee also aims to open a store next year in Sydney, Australia as well as Malaysia. It is also planning to open a store in Guam, marking a comeback in this territory.