The fried chicken-focused flagship brand of Philippines-based Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) is launching its first franchising program in the United States to spearhead its growth.
Jollibee says it is seeking multi-unit franchisees who offer “operational expertise and development capabilities”.
Jollibee opened its first North American location in 1998 in Daly City, California and currently operates 76 stores spanning 14 states in the US and 28 stores in Canada. The chain says its projected expansion goal is to have 350 stores across both the US and Canada in the next couple of years, adding that its franchising program will play a “critical role” in this growth strategy, with franchise-owned stores projected to make up the majority of its footprint.
Jollibee has established a US subsidiary, JBM LLC (JBM), to operate its US franchise program. JBM is currently vetting potential franchisees with strong restaurant operations experience and will soon be awarding franchises in both existing and new markets.
Under the new franchise program, JBM will be offering a range of ownership opportunities to fit various locations and business needs. Qualified candidates will be able to choose from stand-alone buildings with or without drive-thru, strip mall endcaps, urban storefronts and exterior mall entrances. Jollibee is also open to exploring opportunities in other high-traffic locations, like airports, transit hubs, food courts and college campuses with the select experienced operators.
