Fast food chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp is set to expand its global footprint by bringing its flagship eponymous brand to five new markets next year, including the UK, Italy, Canada, Malaysia and Oman.
The company, which currently operates c3,000 stores globally, including c2,400 in the Philippines and c630 overseas, said its first two sites in Europe would be located in London and Milan while the company’s first site in Canada would be in Toronto.
The group, which last month completed the acquisition of a 40% stake in Smashburger for $99.5m, also plans to open Jollibee stores in Australia and Japan in 2017.
Jollibee vice president for international operations Dennis Flores said: “At present, Jollibee is present in two continents but in the next two years, we will see Jollibee in four continents.”
The company also has an option to purchase up to an additional 35% of Smashburger between 2018 and 2021 and the balance of 25% between 2019 at the earliest and 2026 at the latest.
