Jollibee Winnipeg first Canadian foothold
Filipino restaurant company and global fast-food chain Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has opened its first Canadian outlet, Jollibee Winnipeg.
With 35 stores already in North America, it plans to continue its march into Canada with three more outlets next year, at Winnipeg Northgate, Scarborough, and Mississauga, to be followed by Edmonton in 2018.
In the US, it is also set to open its first store in the state of Florida, in Jacksonville, and its first store for Manhattan, New York.
“It has been a joy to see the happiness families experience when visiting our locations in the US, and we are thrilled to now bring that same feeling into Canada at such a festive time like this,” says JFC group president for north America and foreign franchise brands Jose Minana.
“Winnipeg is a fitting choice for Jollibee’s first Canadian store because it has largest density of Filipinos to the total population of the city,” says JFC North America VP/GM Maribeth dela Cruz.
JFC is currently the largest Asian restaurant company in market capitalisation, working in 12 markets including Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. It has 3236 stores globally, of which 1111 are Jollibee branded. Other brands in its portfolio are Burger King, Chowking, Greenwich, Hong Zhuang Yuanm Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon and Yonghe King.
JFC also has investments with the brands 12 Hotpot, Highlands Coffee, Pho 24, Dunkin Donuts in China, and US-based burger chain Smashburger.