Local Farmers Unlock New Farming Strategies at Jollibee Group Foundation’s Journey to Growth Forum

Through breakout sessions, participants discussed challenges and devised viable solutions for better produce and sustainable farming practices.

Adapting to the ever-changing market conditions and embracing evolving technologies and practices is a significant part of the decision-making and business of agro-entrepreneurs. The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social development arm of the Jollibee Group, enables the ongoing growth of these agro-entrepreneurs through the recently held, Journey to Growth Forum. The Forum aims to enhance the strategic mindset of the smallholder farmers so they continue to build their skills and expand their capacities, thereby shaping a confident future for agro-entrepreneurs.

Jollibee Group’s Global Chief Business Support Officer William Tan Untiong has shared that the FEP farmers have already fulfilled 90% of the company’s onion requirement as early as the second quarter of 2024

JGF President Gisela Tiongson led the team in facilitating learning sessions, focus group discussions, and strategic business planning.

The Forum was an energetic gathering of farmers, cooperatives, associations, local government units, and partner organizations. It featured dynamic agri-innovation learning sessions, latest industry updates, focus group discussions, and strategic business planning workshops—all designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s agricultural landscape.

Through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), JGF continues to empower smallholder farmers to thrive as agro-entrepreneurs and become economically self-sufficient by providing leadership and agro-entrepreneurship training that enhances their knowledge and skills. 

“The Journey to Growth Forum not only strengthened our relationship with partner farmers but also provided an ideal avenue for them to learn best practices and discover solutions to existing farming challenges. We hope to aid our farmers in achieving sustainable growth by continuously providing workshops and training on leading edge and innovative approaches.” ~Gisela Tiongson, JGF President 

Leadership and expertise

Experts from Jollibee Group's global divisions—including Procurement, Insurance and Risk Management, Finance, Sustainability and Public Affairs, and the Data Office—spearheaded engaging discussions on key topics like customer service, supply assurance, operational efficiency, financial strength, sustainability, and leadership.

To deepen the impact, the Foundation brought in industry experts to share cutting-edge insights on agri-innovations.  Miguel Garcia, Junior Operations Center Supervisor of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), spoke about preparing for the possible upcoming La Nina. 

Adding to the wealth of knowledge, Dr. Dionisio Bucao of Mariano Marcos State University emphasized the critical role of soil health in sustainable farming, while Arjay Aquino of Central Luzon State University shared actionable strategies for soil health restoration, ensuring that farmers are equipped with the latest sustainable practices.

About Jollibee Group 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,900 stores across 32 countries. 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 92% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. The Company also established a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. Recently, the Jollibee Group signed agreements to own 10% ownership in Botrista, a leader in the beverage technology space. The Company also owns a 90% participating interest in Titan Dining Partners II Ltd to further grow Asia Pacific food service brands and/or bring strong global food service brands to Asia Pacific.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the Company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The Company is also a three-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award and was recently cited in TIME’s List of the World’s Best Companies and Fortune’s Southeast Asia 500 List.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Jollibee Group Brings Together Local, Global Suppliers to Bolster Collaboration for Innovation and Adaptability

CSR at the forefront. Jollibee Group Foundation Chairperson Grace Tan Caktiong (first row: seated, third from left) and Jollibee Group Foundation president Gisela Tiongson (first row: seated, second from left) led the recognition of FEP partners for their dedication and unwavering commitment at the Supplier Awards Night. 

Anchored on its long-term goal of building a resilient supply chain to ensure better service and quality products in the future, the Jollibee Group has gathered 600 key global and country suppliers to foster a more robust and effective partnership by aligning with them the company’s business priorities and innovations in the years ahead.

Partners for Growth. The Jollibee Group has gathered 600 local and global suppliers for a Supplier Summit to unveil the company's business practices, directions, and innovations. The summit culminated by recognizing the strong supplier partnerships that has fueled Jollibee Group's success and growth.

With the theme "Accelerating Growth Through Partnership,"the recently concluded event also underscored Jollibee Group’s pivotal steps in enhancing customer experience and upholding the highest food safety and quality standards together with its suppliers. It also reiterated Jollibee Group’s commitment to sustainable business practices, as embodied in its ‘Joy for Tomorrow’ global sustainability agenda, as a company that partners with reputable suppliers who share its principles of serving food people trust, helping improve people’s lives, and treating the planet responsibly. 

“Our suppliers have been one of our greatest resources, playing a crucial role in helping us meet our operational and sustainable business goals. As partners in our growth, we aim to keep them informed of our directions and initiatives, and to communicate our commitments to quality, consistency, and excellence. The Supplier Awards Night is a celebration of excellence and shared commitments. It also highlights how powerful collaborations truly accelerate growth. We hope that these recognitions will boost the trust and motivation of our suppliers, as well as reinforce the strength of our partnerships as we expand the business with our common goal: To serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone.” ~Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group President and Chief Executive Officer

Business outlook. Jollibee Group chief executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong shared insights on the Company’s business performance and future strategies.

Tanmantiong, followed by William Tan Untiong, Jollibee Group's Chief Business Support Office, and other Jollibee Group executives each gave their business presentations, which aimed to empower the suppliers with new knowledge as they continue working with Jollibee Group to provide great tasting food that people can trust.  

Recognition of Quality and Reliability

 

Culminating the summit is Jollibee Group's first-ever Supplier Awards Night, which honored its suppliers' outstanding performances in reaching elevated supplier targets and metrics as well as  suppliers' innovation, and sustainability efforts.

The top recognition known as the Champion Partner of Joy award was presented to Kerry Manufacturing (Philippines), Inc. for embodying the highest standards of quality, innovation, sustainability, and partnership, as well as a sustained high-level performance in the Procurement Value Matrix and supplier scorecards.

Arla Foods Corporation received the Special Award for Innovation for providing creative solutions, products, or processes that have notably enhanced their operations or customer experience. They also received the notable Special Award for Sustainability for demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility and contributing to a more sustainable future for communities and the planet.  

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk Corporation and Nueva Ecija-based farmer group KALASAG Multipurpose Cooperative, along with two other companies, were given the Special Award for Quality for exhibiting exceptional standards in delivering products or services that consistently meet or exceed the company’s stringent quality standards. Finally, marketing services suppliers DDB Philippines and Widescope Advertising Agency were given the Special Citation for Quality.

About Jollibee Group 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,800 stores across 33 countries. 

 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

 

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 92% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. The Company also established a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. Recently, the Jollibee Group signed agreements to own 10% ownership in Botrista, a leader in the beverage technology space.  The Company also owns a 90% participating interest in Titan Dining Partners II Ltd to further grow Asia Pacific food service brands and/or bring strong global food service brands to Asia Pacific.

 

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the Company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

 

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The Company is also a three-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award and was recently cited in TIME’s List of the World’s Best Companies.  

 

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com