Jollibee
Some time ago, I was in Liverpool, England, doing a Beatles’ tour. When I asked someone the location of the famous Cavern Club, I was told to walk straight ahead, and turn right at Jollibee!
Jollibee in England! Yes! As Filipino migrants now cover the world, Filipino businesses are following in their footsteps.
Jollibee is a McDonald’s-like fast food chain, but serving Filipino-style food. As of May 2019, Jollibee operated over 1,300 stores, with 1,150 in the Philippines and 234 in foreign markets. Jollibee has locations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Oceania.
The Filipino community in the UK is estimated at 200,000, with the majority working in the National Health Service as nurses and healthcare professionals, or in the care sector, making them a crucial part of the UK workforce.
After a hard day’s work, these Filipino nurses and healthcare professionals are obviously dying to wolf down a Yumburger, or a piece of Chickenjoy alongside palabok, a traditional Filipino noodle dish, or some Jolly Spaghetti, a sweet Filipino spaghetti that includes a beef sauce with pieces of hot dog and ham.
Jollibee was established in 1978 by Tony Tan Caktiong. It is the Philippines’ top fast-food restaurant and is among the world’s fastest-growing restaurant chains, having expanded its international presence almost sixfold from 2014 to 2024. Jollibee was able to withstand the entry of McDonald’s into the Philippines in 1981 by focusing on the specific tastes of the Filipino market.