Jollibee to open stores in UK, Macau, Manhattan and New York

MANILA - The Philippines' largest food operator Jollibee Food Corp. (JFC) on Wednesday said it would open its first stores in the United Kingdom, Manhattan (USA), and Macau (China) as part of its overseas expansion plans. 

The first Jollibee store in the UK will open on Oct. 20, the outlet in Macau will open on Sept. 28, while branches in Manhattan and in New York will open in a few months, JFC said in a statement. 

"JFC is bringing the company’s well-loved brand to Filipinos abroad to give them a taste of home," JFC said. 

Aside from serving Filipinos overseas, Jollibee said it has "seen success" in serving locals, especially in Vietnam and Brunei where most of their customers are locals. 

In Singapore, more than half of its customers are locals, JFC said. 

"JFC envisions to continue replicating its success in the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong and Singapore in other markets soon," it said. 

The company hopes to be among the world's top 5 largest restaurant companies in terms of market capitalization. To do that, JFC is focusing on the two largest economies, namely China and the US, while sustaining growth in the country. 

JFC recently announced its plans to build a "significant" Mexican food business in the US. It also recently raised its stake in Smashburger to 85 percent for $100 million.

The company in March also opened a Jollibee branch in Milan, Italy its first in Europe.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Ciao Italy: Jollibee opens first store in Europe

MILAN - Filipinos thronged the opening of Jollibee's first European store here for a taste of the fried chicken and spaghetti from back home.

Patrons lined up outside the store, some coming from Turin, Rome, Venice and Florence and even other parts of Europe like Switzerland and Denmark.

"Na-excite lang ako nung malaman ko na magkakaroon ng Jollibee rito. Pumunta ako dito kahit apat na oras ang byahe," said customer James Abanilla.

(I was excited when I learned that Jollibee will open here, even if I traveled for four hours.)

Swiss national Frank Fausch said he and his family traveled five hours from Swtizerland to Milan.

"I know that it’s good so we want to taste again," he said.

Italy is home to the seventh biggest population of expatriate Filipino workers, with close to 272,000 people working there in 2013, according to data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.


Jollibee Milan has an all-Filipino crew. Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello said he hoped the company would expand to other parts of Europe, bringing more job opportunities to Filipinos.

"It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Talagang kayang-kaya nating iharap ang galing natin sa entrepreneurship," he said.

(It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity, that we can really hold our own when it comes to entrepreneurship.)

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Jollibee signs purchase deal for bigger Smashburger stake

MANILA - Jollibee Foods Corp said Thursday it signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of an additional 45-percent stake in US-based Smashburger.

Plans for the $100-million acquisition, which will be made by Jollibee subsidiary Bee Good! Inc, was first announced in February.

The transaction will raise the stake of the Philippines' largest fastfood operator in Smashburger to 85 percent.

Jollibee shares were down 1.91 percent in early trading compared to a 0.57-percent decline in the main index.

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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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McDonald's profits jump as it taps tech for deliveries

NEW YORK - McDonald's turned in another strong round of earnings Tuesday following heavy promotions in the US as it ramps up tech-focused home-delivery and mobile pay initiatives.

The fast food giant scored a solid 6 percent jump in global comparable sales, fueled by gains in several key markets, including the United States, China, Britain and Canada.

"We're building a better McDonald's and winning back customers," said chief executive Steve Easterbrook, who was appointed in 2015 and has been credited with turning around the chain and dousing worries about rival chains and growing consumer enthusiasm for healthier fare.

Net income for the quarter ending September 30 was $1.9 billion, up 47.7 percent from the year-ago period. That included a gain of about $850 million from the sale of China and Hong Kong businesses to franchising companies.

Revenues fell 10.4 percent to $5.7 billion due to the divestments in Asia.

Easterbrook has been praised for successful roll-outs of the chain's popular all-day breakfast option and other new programs, and with efforts to simplify the menu in order to speed visits for customers.

The British-born chief has also reorganized McDonald's international divisions and aggressively pursued store refranchising that has raised funds that have helped to offset the costs of technology investments and higher spending on salaries and worker training.

US sales were lifted by some aggressive discounting initiatives, including the McPick 2 value deal, which charged $5 for 2 meal-sized items, such as the Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets.

Comparable sales in the US rose 4.1 percent despite lower sales in regions hit by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

The results "are a testament to both (McDonald's) resilience and the soundness of its reinvention strategy," said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail.

"Promotional activity has been key to McDonald's success within the US," Saunders said.

"While such activity is not new and helped to drive trade during the second quarter, we are encouraged that it still has resonance given the recent increase in the number of offers and deals from fast food rivals."

MCDONALD'S ON DEMAND

Easterbrook said he had been encouraged by early efforts on home delivery in the US, currently available at 3,700 restaurants, with a target of 5,000 by the end of the year.

He said the service was a "meaningful contributor" to sales at participating restaurants because there are many return customers.

"Given consumer trends, we can already see it growing," said Easterbrook. "We were a little late to enter, but I think we've entered with more muscle and intent than probably most other competitors could probably muster."

McDonald's is also eyeing growth through greater use of mobile ordering and curbside pickup. The program currently has about nine million active users on a monthly basis, said Chris Kempczinksi, president of McDonald's USA.

The chain is focused on training employees "to really understand when a curbside order comes up, how do they take that order? How do they go out and bring that food to the customers?"

The objective is to have the service running effectively by the time it begins publicizing the service in 2018, he added.

"We want to make sure that when we do flip on the marketing switch, we're ready to handle the business," Kempczinksi said.

Shares of McDonald's rose 0.8 percent to $164.67 in afternoon trading.

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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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Big Mac inventor dies at age 98

CHICAGO - The man who invented the quintessential American fast-food burger, the Big Mac, and inadvertently set off a race to create ever more expansive fast-food menus, has died.

Michael "Jim" Delligatti passed away Monday surrounded by family at his home in a Pittsburgh suburb, according to his family. He was 98 years old.

Delligatti laid claim to one of the most indelible inventions in American cuisine since sliced bread -- a double hamburger with two beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, which is covered in a special sauce.

As owner of a McDonald's restaurant in western Pennsylvania nearly half a century ago, Delligatti convinced the company to venture away from its brief menu of simple burgers, fries and drinks, according to a 1993 profile of the Big Mac in the Los Angeles Times.

He got permission to try his new burger in 1967 and sales jumped 12 percent, the Times said. Within a few years, McDonald's was advertising the Big Mac nationwide.

"This wasn't like discovering the light bulb," he said. "The bulb was already there. All I did was screw it in the socket."

He said the idea came from rival burger restaurants in the mid-1960s.

After the Big Mac's invention, the company expanded its menu further, creating an age of new menu items such as the Egg McMuffin and Filet-o-Fish.

But, it was the Big Mac that became a cultural icon.

In a statement, McDonald's said Delligatti was a "legendary franchisee" who made a "lasting impression" on the company.

"We will remember Jim as an insightful franchisee, a knowledgeable businessman," the company said.

McDonald's says it sells hundreds of millions of the oversized burgers globally, although sales have slowed in recent years as millennials reportedly show less interest in super-sized fast food.

According to Delligatti's family he went on to own 48 McDonald's restaurants.

He is survived by his wife Ellie, two children, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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KFC to offer all-you-can-eat breakfast

MANILA – Two years after setting up real beds in their restaurants for breakfast, KFC Philippines is at it again as it starts serving morning meals buffet-style this coming weekend.

The fast food chain announced that its breakfast buffet will be available in eight participating stores in the Philippines from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on all weekends of July.

It encouraged customers to reserve early for the buffet – which includes chocolate chip pancakes, longganisa, tocino, chicken fillet with steak sauce, egg, garlic rice and arroz caldo, among others – as seats are limited.

The offer is priced at P199 per person exclusive of drinks, and P99 for children between three to four feet in height. Shorter kids get to eat for free.

The Philippine franchise of KFC has been known for its unique offerings, with some of them making it to US publications and TV shows.

One of these is the Cheese Top Burger – a chicken sandwich with melted cheese placed on top of the bun – which had its own spoof on the US late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Just recently, the fast food chain gained mixed reactions from netizens in the Philippines after offering fried chicken coated with the popular Filipino snack Clover Chips.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

McDonald's to give out free McMuffins on March 17

MANILA – More than 300 branches of McDonald’s in the Philippines will give out free McMuffins on Monday next week to mark the second National Breakfast Day in the country.

Each branch will give away 1,000 free McMuffins – or a total of around 320,000 – to customers on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6 a.m. on March 17. These will be available for dine-in, take-out or drive-thru.

The event will coincide with similar promos in McDonald’s branches in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

“We were so encouraged by our customers’ resounding response in the region last year, we are bringing back National Breakfast Day to remind people about waking up to better mornings with breakfast,” said Andrew Hipsley, chief brand officer of McDonald’s for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

“Breakfast is a significant business for McDonald’s. And we know the convenience of a hot McMuffin on-the-go makes breakfast so much accessible for people who are often caught up in the morning rush,” Hipsley added.

The McMuffin comes in egg and sausage variants. Here in the Philippines, McDonald’s Philippines also serves local items such as the ham pan de sal and longganisa with rice.

The first National Breakfast Day was held in the country on March 18, 2013.

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