Jollibee Foods Corp. is investing AUD60 million to open 35 stores across Australia over the next five years through franchise partnerships expected to create about 900 direct jobs.
President and Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong announced the expansion during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Jollibee Biopolis in Manila.
Tanmantiong said the Philippine fast-food group had signed exclusive franchise agreements with Happy Food Group for Victoria and Lucky Bee Australia for New South Wales.
“Together, our partners aim to open 35 stores within the next five years, representing an estimated AUD60 million in investment and creating approximately 900 jobs for Australians,” he said.
The expansion gives Jollibee a new foothold in the Australian market as it continues to grow its international presence. The brand, which started as a small ice cream business in the Philippines, now has nearly 2,000 stores across 17 countries, Tanmantiong said.
Albanese said the investment would generate employment beyond the restaurants themselves, with supply-chain activity creating additional economic opportunities.
“35 stores, 900 direct jobs, tens of millions of dollars of investment, but as well, of course, the flow-on impact because of the supply chain, will be literally thousands of jobs in Australia,” he said.
The Australian prime minister also highlighted Jollibee’s significance to Australians of Filipino heritage, describing the brand as a symbol of Filipino success.
Tanmantiong linked the franchise agreements to the shared values of the two countries, invoking the Filipino spirit of bayanihan and Australia’s concept of mateship.
“Today, bayanihan meets mateship, united by shared belief, we are stronger together,” he said.
