Chickenjoy supplier Cargill shifts to retail as pandemic chokes restaurant demand

MANILA - Poultry supplier Cargill Philippines said Wednesday it shifted to retail after the COVID-19 pandemic slashed demand from restaurants.

Cargill, which supplies poultry for Jollibee Chickenjoy, turned to new markets such as grocery stores, said its corporate affairs director Chris Ilagan.

Currently, there is an "oversupply" of poultry products, pushing farm gate prices to fall to as low as P30 from P70 per kilo, Ilagan said 

"In the quick service restaurants, we have seen a drastic drop [in demand], the halting of their operations, very minimal coming back online," Ilagan said.

"We have gone into the retail space, we are servicing now groceries, which is beyond us prior to COVID. I guess this is the bright spot and it’s teaching us new ways on how we can potentially serve new markets," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte extended the lockdown in high risk areas until May 15, where restaurants are only allowed to open for drive thru and deliveries. 



Consumers are likely to stay away from fast food even after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted due to lingering COVID-19 risks, he said.

In general community quarantine areas, where restrictions are fewer compared to ECQ, those aged 20 and below and 60 and above are still required to stay at home, Ilagan said.

"After this COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end and we’re certainly keeping our eyes open on those sort of opportunities," he said.

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Jollibee 'ready-to-cook' items for sale during COVID-19 lockdown

MANILA - Jollibee Foods Corp said Friday it made available ready-to-cook items in select stores for take-out or drive thru after it closed outlets to dine-in customers during the 1-month lockdown of Luzon.

A limited time offer "ready-to-cook" menu went viral online which includes the marinated and spicy version of its famous Chickenjoy. 

In a response to a Twitter user, Jollibee said "the ready-to-cook-items are available in Jollibee stores nationwide that are open for take out and drive thru, until supplies last."


Ready-to-eat beef tapa, tuna pie, french fries and grated cheese are also available, based on the menu. Participating branches are listed on its official website, JFC said.

Restaurants are allowed to operate take-out and delivery services during the Luzon-wide COVID-19 lockdown effective until April 12.

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Chicken out? Serve Chickenjoy: How Jollibee took on McDonald's

MANILA -- Instead of chickening out, Jollibee offered fried chicken and focused on a delicious menu, its CEO said, recalling how the firm took on McDonald's to become the Philippines' largest fast food operator.

When McDonald's entered the Philippines at the start of the 1980s, Jollibee only had 12 stores. The young chain's founder, Tony Tan Caktiong, hired a foreign consultant to map out a strategy, said the current CEO, Ernesto Tan Mantiong.

At that time, Jollibee stores were behind in look, equipment, systems and process, except in one area: taste, Tan Mantiong told a recent dinner roundtable with businessmen in Manila.

"Instead of chickening out, we served Chicken Joy," Tan Mantiong said, referring to Jollibee fried chicken, which it eventually exported to its foreign outlets.

"We were warned that when McDonald's entered the country, it tended to wipe out local competitors. We were told to just give it up and do other businesses and not to confront the global giant," he said. "So Tony sought the help of a foreign consultant, who was an expert in corporate strategy."

ICE CREAM BEGINNINGS

Before setting up Jollibee, Tan Caktiong and his then girlfriend, Grace, set up 2 ice cream parlors, one in Cubao and another in Quiapo from a seed capital of P350,000.

"Since they plan on getting married, they applied for a franchise for their livelihood," Tan Mantiong said.

After a few months of operations, Tan Caktiong and his brothers found out that consumers craved hot meals and burgers, which eventually replaced the ice cream-heavy menu, Tan Mantiong said.

"Since we were now selling primarily hot meals and burgers, we thought it would be good to change the name of our stores," he said.

WHY JOLLIBEE?

Naming the business was a long process, Tan Mantiong said. The word "Jolli" was inspired by a helicopter used during the Vietnam war called "Jolly Green Giant," which the Tan family spotted during an exhibit in Clark, while "bee" was suggested by Tan Caktiong’s wife Grace.

Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were inspirations for the group’s mascot, Tan Mantiong earlier shared in an interview with CNBC.

The country’s largest food operator has since introduced different versions of its logo including "flying bee" and a "standing bee."

ASIA’S PRIDE

Jollibee reached its first 1000th store milestone in 2017. Today it has over 1,400 stores in 16 countries, Tan Mantiong said.

The Jollibee group has 6 brands in the Philippines and over 3,420 stores, he said. Globally, the company has a total of 15 brands and over 5,800 stores in 35 countries, he said. 

Jollibee acquired US-based burger chain Smashburger as well as the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf brand. It has invested in Mexican-American Tortas Fronteras, and has franchise interests in other global brands such as Panda Express, Dunkin Donuts and Pho24. 

"It is heartening to know that to this day, the Philippines is the only country in the whole world where a local company beat the global leader in its own game," Tan Mantiong said.

"I’ve learned that it is important to always dream big with passion and commitment. Even when we started out, we dream big and even though many thought it was crazy. And it was that crazy dream that brought us to where we are now," he said.

Even after 40 years, founder Tan Caktiong still has his eyes on potential acquisitions or brands with "great tasting food" and a scalable model, his brother and successor said.

Looking back, with a shoebox of letters from his wife Susan to remind him of past challenges, Tan Mantiong said the company he helped build "had come a long way."

"There will be many more challenges along the way, but I truly believe that the best is yet to come," he said.

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Jollibee may open first store in China 'in near future', CEO says

MANILA - Jollibee Foods Corp may expand its home-grown fast food chain brand in China within the next 5 years, its CEO said.

JFC operates a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in China. 

It also has 8 stores in Hong Kong where 40 to 50 percent of customers are "local Chinese," JFC president and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong told Christine Tan in an exclusive interview for CNBC's Managing Asia. 

"In China, hopefully in the near future we will be able to enter the market," Tanmantiong told CNBC. 

When asked when will the first Jollibee open in the mainland, Tanmantiong said: "We're looking at within 5 years, where we should be able to do that."

The brand's expansion strategy is focused on the areas where there are a lot of Filipinos, expanding to local markets after that, he said. 

"We build the base and slowly cross over to the mainstream market, which is the local market. We have done that successfully in Hong Kong and in Singapore," Tanmantiong said. 

There are 6 stores in Singapore where 50 percent of customers are also locals, he said. 

Last November, JFC said it planned to expand the number of its stores in the US to 150 in 5 years and add 100 branches in Canada. Both countries have many migrants from the Philippines.

Jollibee is also planning to open its first store in Rome and in Spain and is also exploring other markets including Australia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, Tanmantiong said. 

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Jollibee opens Guam branch in accelerated North America push

MANILA -- Over a thousand patrons lined up for hours on Saturday to mark the opening of Jollibee in Guam, its 38th store in the US, the Philippines' largest fast food operator said Saturday.

The store's first customer, Landon Laureano waited in line for 12 hours. Located in front of the Micronesia Mall in Dededo, it can seat 205 people.

Jollibee Foods Corp recently announced its accelerated North American expansion plan, which includes growing to 150 locations in the US and 100 in Canada over the next 5 years.

The company continues to expand globally, opening stores in Manhattan in New York, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

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Jollibee to build more stores in US, Canada

MANILA – Jollibee Foods Corp said Monday it planned to expand its stores in the US to 150 in 5 years and add 100 branches in Canada.

The country's largest fast food operator confirmed the expansions plans in a disclosure to the stock exchange. It was first reported on Bloomberg markets.

Jollibee aims to be among the world's top 5 quick service restaurant operators, according to the disclosure.

Jollibee had said it opened 192 stores in the first half of 2018, spending P8.3 billion in capital expenditures and acquisitions.

It also raised its stake in US burger chain Smashburger to 85 percent and announced plans for a Mexican food venture.

In October Filipinos lined up for Jollibee's first store in London, some of whom came from other parts of Europe. The company opened its first store in the continent, located in Milan, Italy, last May.

Jollibee marked its 1,000th store milestone in the Philippines in July 2017. It also has stores in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei.

Last May, Jollibee said it would invest 45 million Singapore dollars (P1.74 billion) in a private equity fund that is set to acquire the master franchise of Tim Ho Wan in the Asia Pacific.

The Filipino company is also eyeing British sandwich chain Pret A Manger, Reuters reported in late 2017.

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Jollibee teases Manhattan branch opening with selfies around New York

MANILA -- Jollibee said it would open a store in Manhattan on Saturday and teased fans with a video of its mascot taking selfies around New York.

The Manhattan store will be launched one week after the Philippines' largest fast food operator opened a store in London, attracting long lines from homesick Filipinos who traveled to the British capital from other parts of Europe.

The Jollibee mascot stopped for selfies in Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty in the video, which had 88,000 views as of Friday.

Jollibee did not give an exact time for the opening. New York City is 12 hours behind Manila.

Aside from the eponymous burger and fried chicken chain that is loved by Filipinos, Jollibee also has a stake in American burger restaurant Smashburger and is eyeing a Mexican food venture.

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Jollibee to open 15 more outlets in Singapore, eyes 150 in Indonesia

MANILA - The famous Philippine chicken joy is spreading its wings across Asia as home-grown fast-food chain Jollibee announced Friday its plans for expansion in Singapore and Indonesia.

Dennis Flores, Jollibee president and head of international business in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, confirmed that 15 more outlets will be opened in Singapore in the next five years.

He also revealed the company's long-term expansion plans in Indonesia.

“We’re looking at putting up no less than 150 stores in Indonesia over the next 10 years,” Flores told ABC-CBN News.

Jollibee opened its first outlet in Singapore in 2013 located at Lucky Plaza, a known hub for overseas Filipino workers. Flores said, a 6th outlet will open at Jurong East in April 2018.

He said the growing number of Singaporean patrons is proof that "Jollibee’s offerings have greatly appealed to the taste buds of the locals."

Aside from Indonesia and Singapore, Jollibee is looking into growing its international store network in Malaysia and Macau.

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LOOK: Long line of customers warms winter opening of Jollibee in Canada

Filipinos braved the snow and sub-zero temperatures to get a taste of Jollibee's famous Chickenjoy and sweet Jolly Spaghetti, as the fast food chain's first store opened in Canada.

A photo posted by Jollibee Canada on Facebook shows a long line of customers clad in winter clothing just outside the store.

The caption read: "WOW! Check out the line for the #1stJollibeeInCanada! These guys are all geared up and ready to go! Stick around for exciting updates on the warmest, jolliest reunion in town!"

Earlier on Thursday, the company tweeted: "No freezing weather can stop our best friend Jollibee from bringing the JOY to Winnipeg, Canada."

No freezing weather can stop our bestfriend Jollibee from bringing the JOY to Winnipeg, Canada! #1stJollibeeinCanada pic.twitter.com/i0HZuRmnxi

 — Jollibee (@Jollibee) December 16, 2016

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Freezing opening for first Jollibee in Canada

No freezing weather can stop our bestfriend Jollibee from bringing the JOY to Winnipeg, Canada! #1stJollibeeinCanada pic.twitter.com/i0HZuRmnxi

 — Jollibee (@Jollibee) December 16, 2016

 MANILA - Filipinos braved sub-zero temperatures for a taste of home as Jollibee Foods Corp. opened its first store in Canada, the company said Friday.

The Philippines' largest fast food operator is opening 150 overseas stores overseas from this year to 2017, bringing local favorites such as Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti to Filipino communities.

Customers at the Winnipeg branch, wrapped up in winter coats lined up as early as 7 a.m., waiting for their turn to order.

"No freezing weather can stop our best friend Jollibee from bringing the JOY to Winnipeg, Canada," the company said in its official Twitter account.


The company mascot, Jollibee, wearing a light blue scarf, welcomed customers to the restaurant.

Jollibee, founded by tycoon Tony Tan Caktiong, boasts of being one of the few brands to have beaten American burger giant Mc Donald's.

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LOOK: Anthony Bourdain tries Jollibee in PH

Nagmeryenda lang ako, nakita ko pa si Anthony Bourdain sa Jollibee! Mukhang enjoy sya sa chickenjoy!

Posted by Alfredo Lupe on Friday, 11 December 2015

MANILA - Aside from visiting a Korean restaurant in Malate on Thursday, television personality, chef, and best-selling author Anthony Bourdain appeared to have also stopped by a branch of Jollibee.

A photo of the 59-year-old Bourdain eating at the local fast food chain has been circulating online. A Facebook user named Alfredo Lupe posted it on his account with the caption: "Nagmeryenda lang ako, nakita ko pa si Anthony Bourdain sa Jollibee! Mukhang enjoy sya sa chickenjoy!"

This is not the first time that Bourdain was able to eat at Jollibee. Back in 2013, Bourdain visited a Jollibee branch in Los Angeles and tried halo-halo, a menu item he described as "oddly beautiful."

Bourdain's last visit in the country was in 2008 for his Travel Channel show, "No Reservations." During that trip, he made stops in Manila, Pampanga, and Cebu.

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