A JOLLY WELCOME IN THE UK. Jollibee’s openings in the UK continue to attract long lines of locals waiting for a taste of the brand’s world-famous Chickenjoy. In photo is its recent opening in Nottingham.

MANILA, Philippines. 28 January 2022 – Homegrown restaurant brand Jollibee is making waves in the UK market with record sales growth between January and September 2021, a milestone strengthened by its long-term investment and expansion plans in the region despite the pandemic.

Jollibee’s new stores have contributed significantly to the brand’s strong performance in the UK.  Overall sales grew 417% and over 1.3 million pieces of Chickenjoy have been sold since January.  Two weeks into its European Flagship Store opening in London’s West End in the first half of 2021, the brand recorded nearly 14,000 customer visits and sold nearly 62,000 pieces of Chickenjoy. The store also saw a 51% increase in local non-Filipino customers and attracted more Gen Z and millennials from London and beyond, manifesting that Jollibee’s appeal is truly wide and diverse.

Another rising star in Jollibee’s menu is the Chicken Burger, which is the brand’s fastest-growing menu item with sales rising 566.9%

“In one of the hardest years the industry has ever seen, we remain committed to our long-term strategy of investing in Europe, which will help us achieve the vision of becoming one of the top 5 restaurant companies in the world. We are seeing it pay off with many now able to find a Jollibee as they return to normal lives,” said Adam Parkinson, Business Head of Jollibee Europe.

Since 2020, even at the height of the pandemic and during the lockdown, Jollibee opened eight new stores in the UK—Liverpool, Leicester City, London’s West End, Cardiff, Leeds, Reading, Newcastle, and Nottingham—at a time when many restaurants were holding back on expansion, and some were forced to permanently close stores.

Jollibee will continue opening more stores as part of its £50 million investment in Europe, of which £30 million is allotted to the UK. The brand will open its doors in more locations across Europe, beginning with Scotland soon.

“It’s good to see the success of Jollibee’s flagship store in Leicester Square, London and that its future investment plans are on track for at least 30 more stores in the next few years. This is a great example of what the UK market can deliver for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian investors here, while already generating over 600 jobs in its first ten UK stores. It’s another welcome chicken flavoured step forward for the UK-Philippines trade and investment,” said Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester and Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Philippines.

“I see Jollibee’s entry and expansion in the UK as a win-win proposition for Philippine-UK business. Here’s a Philippine company with the means and the gumption to continue investing and growing in a new market during a pandemic. It speaks well of the confidence that Philippine business places in the UK,” said Michelle Fatima S. Sanchez, Commercial Counsellor and Director, Philippine Trade and Investment Center for the Embassy of the Philippines in the UK.

Jollibee is also planning to open several drive-thrus and shopping centre locations next year. The brand also recently launched its mobile app to further strengthen its customer experience and enhance convenience.