Jollibee turns 45 with Langhap-Sarap meals in 1,211 stores (and counting)
The story has been told of how Jollibee — from its humble beginnings as an ice cream parlor in Cubao to its rise as a global brand that serves joy to millions — has captured the hearts and palates of Filipinos for 45 years with its “langhap-sarap” Chickenjoy, Yumburger, Jolly Spaghetti and other favorites. These meals are enjoyed by Filipino families on the road, at home, or wherever they find themselves when hunger calls.
And, with its 1,211 stores (and counting) Jollibee continues to expand and bring even more joy as it continues to reach more locations nationwide.
“We have been resolute in our commitment to build stores in more locations, including remote provinces, so Pinoys can experience the joy of Jollibee,” said Ferns Yu Jr., Jollibee Philippines president.
The fast-food giant boasts the largest network of drive-thru (over 450) and delivery (1,100) stores.
“Recognizing how consumer behavior has changed in the past years has made us offer more options for Filipinos to get their meals, whether in-store, drive-thru or delivery,” added Dorothy Dee-Ching, Jollibee Philippines VP and head of marketing.
As Jollibee continues to expand, it adds innovations to create stores with new and joyful ways to serve customers.
A look to the future
It was in 2019 that Jollibee built its Level Up Joy Store, a newly designed concept store that featured modern innovations along the stretch of Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. A second Level Up Jollibee was opened on Petron SLEX Southbound in Dec. 2020.
But the pandemic struck and business growth and expansions slowed down all over the world.
As soon as the “new normal” began, Jollibee was again at the forefront, equipping its stores to better serve its customers.
Take 6 for innovations
First were the viral Jollibots, which netizens spotted in Jollibee’s SM Aura branch in Bonifacio Global City during the pilot stage.
“With the Jollibots, our store teams in select stores are experiencing the benefits of serving their customers even more efficiently,” Yu said. “While these Jollibots are welcome additions, we have maintained the same number of crew, as they remain integral to our day-to-day operations and in delivering our Alagang Jollibee brand of service.”
Waiting to pick up food orders is a thing of the past with the new smart lockers designed to complement the Order & Pick up feature of the Jollibee App.
Jollibee also added a Rider’s Area, a dedicated and safe waiting and pickup area where partner riders can rest comfortably as they wait for the orders of their customers.
Al fresco dining has become a must with more people continuing to take precautions when dining out. Jollibee has been allotting more floor space to al fresco areas in all its stores.
The self-order kiosks, or SOKs, were piloted in 2018 to provide faster and more efficient ordering in stores. Now there are more than 300 SOK units in 129 Jollibee stores.
The drive-thru experience with dual lanes, sensors, and food conveyor belts increased the store’s drive-thru capacity, shortening the turnaround time for customers, and making dispatching food faster and fuss-free.
“We’re very excited about these cutting-edge innovations in our stores, some of which are firsts in the local fast-food industry,” added Jon Villanueva, VP of Restaurant Systems of Jollibee. “The future is here and we are committed to making our customers’ experience ‘Alagang Jollibee’ nationwide.”
1,211 stores later, still a chain of firsts
“Jollibee has been a symbol of joy for Filipinos. The presence of a Jollibee store is also seen as an indication that a locality is moving forward, as it brings increased business and commerce to the area and provides employment opportunities to the locals,” said Yu. “It’s not simply about serving joy through food, but multiplying that joy to benefit the local community.”
In the province of Kalinga, Jollibee Tabuk is the first-ever quick-service restaurant to be built. Jollibee Manaoag is a stone’s throw away from the very popular basilica.
Jollibee also opened its first stores in Baler, Siquijor, Guimaras, Camiguin, Moalboal, and Bislig, all of which help add flavor to the overall experience of locals and tourists wanting to explore the beautiful sights the Philippines. Other firsts are Jollibee branches in Sipocot, Camarines Sur, Padre Garcia, Batangas and Jollibee Pililla, Rizal.
The langhap-sarap meals are here to stay. And, as Jollibee celebrates its 45th year, customers can expect the brand to continue expanding aggressively, bringing more joy to other parts of the country.
