Jollibee Group Stores and Facilities Show Sustained Support for Earth Hour 2024

MANILA, Philippines. 22 March 2024 – Over 4,700 stores and facilities of the  Jollibee Group from the Philippines, China, North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia will be turning their lights off on Earth Hour this March 23, 2024, in solidarity with over 190 countries to raise awareness about the environmental impact on the planet of climate change.

Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Burger King, and Common Man Coffee Roasters branches in the Philippines, as well as Tim Ho Wan, Yonghe King, and Hong Zhuang Yuan restaurants in China, Highlands Coffee in Vietnam, and Jollibee, Smashburger, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf branches in North America and Canada will give an hour for the Earth--from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (local time)- as they will simultaneously turn their lights off including signage and billboards on their facilities. 

Pepot Miñana Jr., Jollibee Group’s Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer, emphasized: “We believe that all actions count in helping ensure a sustainable future. While participating in Earth Hour starts with turning off the lights, it serves a bigger purpose of being a visible and important reminder that we can take deliberate steps to make a profound difference on the planet.”

Energy management priority

Energy Efficiency is one of the major focus areas under the Jollibee Group’s Sustainability Agenda called Joy for Tomorrow. Under this priority area, the Company has set reduction goals and initiatives that are aligned with and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly “Affordable and Clean Energy” (Goal #7) and “Responsible Consumption and Production” (Goal #12). 

The Jollibee Group has implemented several energy-saving measures in its stores and commissaries to manifest this goal. This year, the Company will continue increasing the total number of solar-paneled stores to 64, on top of solar installations in its facilities.

After powering up an extensive 6,300 solar panel installation in its Canlubang Baking Facility last January, the Jollibee Group's supply chain will mark another milestone by solarizing its two remaining sites, C3 and Jollibee Worldwide Services Logistics, by the second quarter of 2024.

To continuously contribute to the Company's growing sustainable business practices, these manufacturing and logistics sites are targeting to improve its energy reduction further by the end of the year, following their achievement of a 28.2% reduction in energy use ratio in 2023.

Held annually on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages around 190 countries and territories, inspiring millions of people to act and reduce the consumption of natural resources by turning off lights for an hour.

Jollibee Group Powers Up its Largest Solar Panel Installation to Date

MANILA, Philippines. 07 February 2024. –  The Jollibee Group continues to accelerate its shift to renewable energy by operating 6,300 solar panels in its Canlubang Baking Facility (CBF), the company's most extensive solar panel installation to date. This initiative is part of the Jollibee Group’s commitment to more sustainable business practices guided by its global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Zenith Foods Corporation (ZFC), has collaborated with First Gen Corporation, through Pi Energy Inc., to energize 1/3 of the Jollibee Group’s manufacturing facility with solar-powered electricity. Officials of both the Jollibee Group and First Gen Corporation led the switch-on rites together with Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal last January 9, 2024, in Canlubang, Laguna.

During the ceremony, Jollibee Group Supply Chain Head Michael Ong underscored the company’s drive to lessen the environmental impact of its supply chain operations. "In our quest to bring the joy of eating not only for today's generation but that of tomorrow's, we integrate solar energy into our state-of-the-art Canlubang Baking Facility. This is our largest installation to date, but this is also just the beginning. We have more locations planned in the months ahead, and we are determined to accelerate further our journey towards carbon neutrality," he said. 

Calamba City Mayor Ross Rizal cited the project's role in helping achieve the city's goals on sustainability for the business community. "Your [ZFC] initiative to promote sustainability in your facilities will not only have positive results for your company, but it will also be in solidarity with the government's call for a more orderly operation of companies that considers many factors, including those that concern our environment," he said. 

Ong and his team at ZFC started accelerating the integration of sustainable business practices into the Jollibee Group’s commissaries and logistics centers in 2020. The Canlubang Baking Facility is now the second out of the four target sites for solar panel installation. The first one was Zen3, also in Canlubang, which was installed with 3,000 solar panels last November 2023. The solar panel installation in the two other sites is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2024. 

These commissaries and logistics centers support the Jollibee Group's portfolio of brands in the Philippines, such as Jollibee, Greenwich, Burger King, Red Ribbon, Chowking, and Mang Inasal. 

Solarizing for the future

First Gen constructed four rooftop solar power plants for ZFC's commissaries, cold storage, and logistics facilities. 

Carlo Vega, First Gen's Vice President for Power Marketing, Trading, and Economics, said, "We are thankful to Jollibee Group’s ZFC for their trust in our company to be their reliable energy partner in our shared vision of a cleaner and greener future for this generation and the next."

A journey towards more sustainability

From the established 2020 baseline data, Ong shared that, apart from solar energy use, the Jollibee Group manufacturing sites across the country have reduced their waste by 38% as of 2022.  Furthermore, the manufacturing facilities have decreased their water use ratio by 23% and energy use ratio by 21.5%.

"We learned that our impact on the planet revolves around three critical areas: energy, water, and waste. With this newfound awareness, we embrace the challenge of 'Joy for Tomorrow,' and we set out to establish strategies, systems, and initiatives that will allow us to treat our planet more responsibly," said Jose Miñana Jr., Jollibee Group’s Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer. 

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Other Photos: 

The Jollibee Group continues to accelerate its shift to renewable energy by operating 6,300 solar panels in its Canlubang Baking Facility (CBF), the company's most extensive solar panel installation to date.  

The Canlubang Baking Facility is the manufacturing site of Red Ribbon products.

Calamba Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal and Jollibee Group Supply Chain Head Michael Ong at the ribbon-cutting and switch-on ceremony. Aside from achieving energy independence, Rizal noted that the initiative to promote sustainability in CBF will save a considerable amount of cost and decrease carbon footprints, which is the cause of global warming. 

Jollibee Group, Pasig LGU to Provide Jobs to Senior Citizens and PWDs

Inclusive Employment Program. The Jollibee Group and the Pasig City Government inked a partnership for the implementation of the company’s inclusive employment program that will provide qualified senior citizens and persons with disability in Pasig with jobs at select stores of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King in the city.

MANILA, Philippines. – The Jollibee Group has recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the city government of Pasig, represented by its Mayor Vico Sotto, as part of the company’s inclusive employment program that provides gainful employment to qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in select stores in Pasig of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King. 

According to Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Group Vice President and Head, Global Organization Leadership and Culture and Head, Human Resources Philippines, the partnership with city government of Pasig is consistent with Jollibee Group’s commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to different sectors of society, while promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. 

“We are happy to support the local government unit of Pasig in advancing the interests of our elderly and the differently abled. Through this partnership, we recognize their invaluable role, capacity, and desire to work by giving them the opportunity to become productive members of the community,” Angeles added. 

Under the agreement, Pasig City’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) will assist in conducting initial interviews and profiling of the applicants, while the People with Disability Affairs Office and the Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs will provide trainers to assist and instruct qualified applicants prior to deployment. 

Meanwhile, the City Health Office will serve as the official medical institution to conduct the health examinations and issue certificates as ‘fit to work’ for qualified applicants. Successful applicants will be given “front of house” duties, including work as customer relations staff. 

Besides Pasig City, Jollibee Group has also partnered with the local government units of Manila, Antipolo, and Muntinlupa, and the provincial government of Rizal so more senior citizens and PWDs can benefit from the program. 

“We aim to form partnerships with other LGUs in the future so we can help uplift more lives and find qualified and reliable staff who can join us in our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone,” Angeles said. 

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It’s Time for Pasig. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto personally welcomed the delegation from the Jollibee Group during the MOA Signing ceremonies held at the Pasig City Hall.

Partners for Promoting the Well-Being of Senior Citizens and PWDs. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is joined by the Jollibee Group delegation that includes operations team from the participating brands Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King.

Jollibee Group Strengthens Growth of its Foreign Franchised Brands

Record-Breaking Store Openings. The Jollibee Group opened 23 stores of Burger King in 2022, the highest number of store openings in a single year for Burger King in the Philippines.

The Jollibee Group is focused on strengthening the performance of its foreign franchised brands in the Philippines as part of its growth plans.

“We aim to become the leading market developer of foreign restaurants brands in the country. By leveraging our brand portfolio to provide diverse offerings for various market segments at different price points, and strategically expanding our store network, Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express are expected to continuously contribute to the sustainable growth of our domestic business,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Country Head for Philippine Business.

Store Openings

As part of the company’s expansion efforts in 2022, Burger King opened 23 stores, which is their highest number of store openings in a year. It also opened its 125th milestone store in 2022 and five Bike ‘n Dine stores located in Shaw Wack-Wack San Juan; Visayas Ave. Quezon City; Vermosa in Imus, Cavite; Alabang-West in Muntinlupa; and Carmona Cavite.

In 2022, the Jollibee Group also relaunched Japan’s world-famous Beef Bowl Chain, Yoshinoya. This is its first ever Japanese food chain, making it a strong addition to the foreign franchised brands currently operated by the company. Yoshinoya serves a beefed-up menu in a newly redesigned contemporary and casual Japanese space headlined by their world-famous gyudon or beef bowl.

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Successful Relaunch. The Jollibee Group successfully relaunched Yoshinoya in the Philippines with a refreshed store design and menu offering.

Last year, Yoshinoya opened four stores and renovated three existing stores. The Jollibee Group formed a 50-50 joint venture with YIPI—the Philippine subsidiary of Asia Yoshinoya International Sdn. Bhd. and Yoshinoya Holdings Co. Ltd. in June 2021. The said partnership established Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods, Inc., which operates the Yoshinoya stores in the country and plans to expand Yoshinoya’s store network to 50 stores in the long term.

Meanwhile, Panda Express opened ten stores last year, five of which were the first in its host cities—Robinsons Place Ermita in Manila, SM Southmall in Las Piñas, Betterliving in Parañaque, Shell SLT in Muntinlupa, and Greenhills in San Juan. In February 2023, Panda Express opened its first drive-thru restaurant in Asia with the launch of its Sumulong Highway branch. This new location in Marikina City also marks Panda Restaurant Group’s 100th international restaurant. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. (PRG) and the Jollibee Group formed JBPX Foods, Inc., a joint venture in 2019 to bring the world’s largest American Chinese dining concept in the Philippines.

Milestone Opening. The first drive-thru store of Panda Express in Asia was opened by the Jollibee Group in Marikina City. This also marks the brand’s 100thinternational branch.

Exciting Product Offerings

The Jollibee Group’s thrust with its foreign franchised brands is to bring the authentic experience to Filipinos. Apart from this, the Jollibee Group also provides menu offerings that are either unique to Philippine market or among the best performing for these franchised brands in the region and the world.

On top of its iconic entree, the Original Orange Chicken®, Panda Express introduced Kung Pao Fish last year for the season of Lent. Its Beef Broccoli and Honey Walnut Shrimp are also among the best-selling dishes in the region. Meanwhile, Yoshinoya—with its signature beef bowl—also offered dishes that Filipino foodies can enjoy such as Tempura, Karaage, and desserts like Mochi Matcha Ice Cream and Coffee Jelly.

Burger King Philippines was also acknowledged as having one of the best-in-class launches in Asia for its new product Chicken King. Other exciting new products that guests enjoyed for a limited time last year were Cheese Bites, Plant-Based X-tra Long Chicken, Spicy Chicken King, Spicy Chicken Nuggets, and Truffle Whopper.

For this year, the Jollibee Group is set to open more stores for Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express. These new store openings form part of the company’s goal to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world.

“Our thrust is to bring the original experience of these popular brands to the Filipino people. I am confident that with the success of our foreign franchised brands, and with the continued support of their fans, Jollibee Group will succeed in achieving its long-term growth plans,” Tanbuntiong added.