WEST COVINA, Calif. — Driven by passionate customer loyalty, Jollibee, the global fast-food sensation famous for its Chickenjoy fried chicken and warm hospitality, is kicking off 2026 with impressive first-quarter momentum, highlighted by new stores, development agreements, and an expanding franchise pipeline that positions the brand for its long-term goal of 500 North American restaurants.

“We had a great quarter,” said Peter Wright, vice president of franchise development for Jollibee Group North America. “We opened up two new units, including a new company-owned store in Stockton, California, and one in New York City on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.”

In addition to new restaurant openings, Jollibee continues to build its franchise development pipeline with targeted agreements in strategic markets. “We signed two development agreements — one in Oklahoma for 10 restaurants and a second in the South Bay area of San Francisco for 15 units,” Wright said.

These new deals push the brand’s expansion even further, following the rollout of its franchising program across the U.S. and Canada in 2025. With so much interest from experienced operators, Jollibee is focusing on multi-unit growth in busy regions while staying selective about who it franchises with.

Jollibee is also gaining traction with new locations preparing to open in California and New York.

A major driver behind Jollibee’s accelerating franchise growth is its combination of strong financial performance and passionate customer demand.

“From a franchisee perspective, there are few concepts that offer as high an AUV, customer loyalty, and development white space - we check all those boxes,” Wright said. “New York Tri-State, Florida, Texas, the West Coast and Chicago - these are all areas where we see significant opportunity.”

Free-standing locations average approximately $4.91 million in annual gross sales, while in-line locations average about $5.07 million.* Those results, paired with a globally recognized brand and a loyal fan base, continue to attract experienced multi-unit operators seeking scalable opportunities in the QSR segment.

Jollibee’s Q1 performance signals continued momentum as the brand works toward its long-term goal of reaching 500 locations across North America by 2030. By aligning corporate development with franchise expansion, the company is creating a balanced growth strategy that supports both new and existing operators.

“We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made so far this year,” Wright said. “Between new openings, new development agreements and the strength of our franchise pipeline, we’re building on the momentum from last year and setting the stage for continued growth.”

As Jollibee moves deeper into 2026, the brand remains focused on securing additional development agreements, opening new restaurants in priority markets and partnering with franchisees who align with its high standards and commitment to delivering a joyful guest experience.

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), also known as the Jollibee Group, is one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies, with a mission to deliver great-tasting food, bringing the joy of eating through its 19 brands with over 10,000 stores across 33 countries. 

The Jollibee Group’s portfolio includes nine wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan), five franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery in the Philippines), and ownership stakes in other key brands like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (80%), Compose Coffee (70%), SuperFoods Group that operates Highlands Coffee (60%), and bubble tea brand Milksha (51%). The Company also has membership interests in Tortazo, LLC, along with Chef Rick Bayless, for Tortazo in the U.S. and has recently invested in Botrista, a leader in beverage technology. 

The Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, underscores its commitment to sustainable business practices across food safety, employee welfare, community support, good governance, and environmental responsibility, among others. These focus areas are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group has been recognized as the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal, named one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies, and listed among Forbes' World’s Best Employers and Top Female-Friendly Companies. The Company is also a three-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award recipient and featured in TIME’s World’s Best Companies and Fortune’s Southeast Asia 500 List.

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

*Annual gross sales are derived from 37 free-standing and 40 in-line reporting locations open for the full 2025 calendar year. Annual gross sales for free-standing locations ranged from $2,053,972 to $9,820,614, with an average of $4,907,120 (19/51% exceeded the average). Annual gross sales for in-line locations ranged from $2,205,139 to $9,407,510, with an average of $5,074,194 (18/45% exceeded the average). Some outlets have earned this amount. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you will earn as much. See Item 19 of the JBM LLC Franchise Disclosure Document.