Jollibee opens first Florida branch, Fil-Ams get taste of home

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Filipino-Americans braved chilly weather and got in line before dawn to get a taste of their homeland at the opening of the first Jollibee location in this state.

Craving Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti, Carine and Andre Velasco drove over 3 hours from Winter Haven to camp out outside the restaurant with their two children.

“It feels like home. We miss home,” said Carine. “Nagho-homesick kami (we get homesick), and eating Filipino food — especially Jollibee, it’s kinda like home.”

Helen de Nardis from Westside Jacksonville was the first customer in line.

“I’m excited, I’m celebrating!” she said.

The Philippines' largest fastfood operator has 31 other stores in the US, according to its website.

"Nagulat na naman kami sa excited na mga kasama natin, mga kababayan natin na, naghihintay sila dito," said Jollibee Foods Corp group president for North America Jose Miñana.

(We are surprised by the excitement of our fellow Filipinos who waited here.)

Jollibee opened its first store in Canada last December and Filipino-Canadians braved freezing temperatures to order their favorites.

Read more on Balitang America

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Jollibee eyes first store in Australia

MANILA - Filipino fast food giant Jollibee plans to open its first store in Australia in the next two years, according to Dennis Flores, vice president for international markets at Jollibee Foods Corporation.

Speaking at the 17th Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition, Flores said that Jollibee is set to expand its reach to four continents.

“Currently, we are present in two [continents], and in the next two years we will see Jollibee in four continents,” Flores said.


“We are doing our best to open our first stores in the UK and Italy next year, and soon in Australia and Japan. We will continue our journey with Jollibee as a truly global brand," he added.

Earlier this week, Jollibee said it was looking to acquire one or two more foreign-owned food suppliers, following its $99 million purchase of 40 percent of U.S.-based chain Smashburger.


 "Maybe we need one or two more acquisitions," Tony Tan Caktiong, Jollibee chairman, told reporters.

"It will have to be similar size or bigger ones that will really help on the financial side," he added.

Jollibee Foods Corp. currently owns and operates 87 restaurants in the US, 32 of which are Jollibee units, 33 Red Ribbon stores, 19 Chowking stores, and 3 Jinja outlets.

In the Philippines, it is the largest food service network with a total of 2,834 outlets as of August 31, 2015. - with a report from Reuters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jollibee to open in UK, Italy by 2016

Jollibee Foods Corporation is planning to open its first store in the United Kingdom and another one in Italy next year.

The Philippine-based fast food restaurant is also bringing its flagship brand to Japan and Australia by 2017.

- ANC, News Now, November 02, 2015

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com