Jollibee plans 'ambitious' UK expansion as it prepares to open second site

The group has already secured a third location, in Leicester, which is set to open later this year.

Over the next three to five years, Jollibee says it intends to open 50 sites across the UK; as well as grow its presence in Italy, Spain and other European markets.

It is not known what locations the business will target for its UK rollout, but it has previously announced plans to open sites in Manchester and Birmingham. 

Founded in the Philippines back in 1978, Jollibee operates more than 1,400 stores globally, 1,201 of which are in the Philippines.

The chain is best known for its Chickenjoy fried chicken; Jolly Spaghetti, which is topped with chopped up hot dogs and tomato sauce; and a breakfast dish of corned beef with garlic rice and egg.

Jollibee opened its first UK restaurant in London’s Earl’s Court back in 2018.

Some diners are understood to have queued for 18 hours at the launch event, and the restaurant reportedly sold more than half a million pieces of chicken in its first two weeks of trading. 

The group describes the UK as 'a key market for expansion'.

According to its research the British 'spend a €1.2bn on quick-service chicken per year, compared to €652m in Germany and €700m in France'.

“The UK quick service market continues to grow from strength to strength," says Adam Parkinson, market head of Europe for Jollibee.

"We know that people are living busy lives and they rely on the quick service industry for budget-friendly ways to eat high-quality products on the go.

"It is our job to ensure we can continue to evolve our products and business channels to fit the demands of this segment.”