Jollibee UK sees record sales growth

THE Jollibee Group on Friday said its UK market has seen record sales growth between January and September last year, buoyed by the performance of its new stores.

In a statement, the homegrown fast-food giant said its overall sales soared by 417 percent and over 1.3 million pieces of its renowned Chickenjoy were sold since January.

Its chicken burger is also the “fastest-growing menu item” as sales ramped up by 566.9 percent during the period.

Jollibee said its new stores “contributed significantly” to its strong performance in the United Kingdom.

“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,” Jollibee Europe Business head Adam Parkinson said in the statement.

The company plans to further expand as part of its £50-million investment in Europe, of which £30 million is earmarked for the United Kingdom, beginning with Scotland soon.

Jollibee has opened eight new stores in the United Kingdom since 2020 namely in Liverpool, Leicester City, London’s West End, Cardiff, Leeds, Reading, Newcastle and Nottingham.

“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 10 UK stores,” Member of Parliament for Gloucester and Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to

the Philippines Richard Graham was quoted as saying.

Jollibee, likewise, plans to introduce a few drive-through and shopping center locations next year.

“I see Jollibee’s entry and expansion in the UK as a win-win proposition for Philippine-UK business. It speaks well of the confidence that Philippine business places in the UK,” said Michelle Fatima Sanchez, commercial counselor and

director of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center for the Embassy of the Philippines in the UK.

The Jollibee Group saw an attributable net income of P2.7 billion in January to September last year, a turnaround from its P13.54-billion loss in the same period last year.

Shares of Jollibee Foods Corp. gained P2.40, or 1.03 percent, to close at P234.40 each on Friday.