Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC), the Philippines' largest food service company and one of the fastest-growing Asian restaurant chains globally, announced that its North American franchisor has signed an agreement to develop 16 new Jollibee restaurants in British Columbia, Canada, over the next five years, marking the Philippine fast-food giant's franchise-led entry into the province.

The agreement was signed in July by JBM LLC, JFC's North American franchisor, in partnership with what the company described as an experienced multi-brand food retail operator. JFC currently operates four company-owned restaurants in British Columbia, and the new deal signals a strategic shift toward franchise-led expansion in the province. The franchise model allows JFC to accelerate store growth with lower direct capital outlay, a meaningful advantage in high-operating-cost markets like British Columbia.

This latest agreement follows a separate multi-unit development deal signed in June for 10 restaurants in the Edmonton market. Together, the two agreements bring JFC's committed franchise pipeline in Canada to 26 restaurants, which will complement the 28 locations the company already operates directly across the country.

Canada is home to one of the world's largest Filipino diaspora communities, providing a natural customer base for Jollibee's menu offerings. British Columbia and Alberta are among the provinces with significant Filipino-Canadian populations, aligning with JFC's expansion focus in Western Canada.

JFC, which also operates brands such as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Smashburger, Chowking, and Greenwich across its global portfolio, said the agreements form part of its broader strategy to accelerate franchise-led international expansion while maintaining disciplined capital deployment. The company trades on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker JFC.

"Canada continues to be an attractive growth market for Jollibee, supported by strong consumer demand, strong brand relevance, and increasing interest from experienced franchise operators," Richard Shin, Jollibee Group Chief Financial and Risk Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Jollibee Group International, said in a statement on Monday.

"This latest agreement reflects the growing appeal of the Jollibee brand and our confidence in the long-term opportunity in Canada," Mr. Shin added.

JFC also noted that it is continuing active discussions with prospective franchisees in other Canadian provinces.

"These discussions support the Group's broader strategy to broaden market coverage, build scale in key Canadian markets, and sustain disciplined, franchise-led international growth," the company said.

Jollibee, best known for its Chickenjoy fried chicken, Jolly Spaghetti, and peach mango pies, has been steadily expanding its presence across North America as part of its long-term international growth plans. The brand operates in multiple countries worldwide and has made Canada a priority market for its North American expansion strategy.

— Alexandria Grace C. Magno