Jollibee shuts down China hotpot business

Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. has shut down its hotpot dining business under the 12 Sabu brand in mainland China, mostly to focus on its bigger brands in this part of the world.

12 Hotpot (Shanghai) Food and Beverage Management Co. Ltd. – which was 48-percent owned by JFC – operated 16 stores under the 12 Sabu brand, mostly in the Shanghai area.

This initiative continued the streamlining of JFC’s businesses in China, following its divestment of the 72-store noodle restaurant chain San Pin Wang business at end-2016.

“JFC will focus on building its larger and fast-growing businesses in China and other parts of the world,” the company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday.

The Filipino fast-food operator’s flagship business in China is noodle house chain Yonghe King, one of the most well-known non-Western restaurant chains in China. There are 305 stores under this business.

JFC also owns congee restaurant chain Hong Zhuang Yuan with 44 stores and Dunkin Donuts with 18 stores.