Jollibee is accelerating its U.S. franchise expansion after adding three new multi-unit franchise developers during the first half of 2026, bringing its total to seven franchise groups and putting the Filipino quick-service restaurant brand on track to reach 330 franchised restaurants across the United States by 2030. The announcement marks the next phase of the company’s North American growth strategy, which combines corporate and franchised development to expand the brand’s presence in key markets.
The latest franchise agreements come as Jollibee prepares to open additional corporate and franchised restaurants this year, with California and New York identified as priority markets. The company said the new locations will deepen its footprint in both states while introducing the brand to a broader consumer base beyond its traditionally strong Filipino following.
“It’s been a great year so far. We have a high degree of confidence in franchising as a keyway to grow, and the quality of the franchise candidates we are engaging with is impressive. We are also really excited about upcoming new store openings, both corporate and franchise, this year,” said Peter Wright, Vice President of Franchise Development for Jollibee Group North America.
Jollibee said its U.S. franchise strategy remains focused on partnering with experienced restaurant operators capable of developing multiple locations while maintaining the operational standards that have supported the brand’s international growth. Rather than targeting single-unit investors, the company is pursuing established multi-unit franchisees with the operational expertise and financial capacity to scale the business across major U.S. markets.
The company is also highlighting its restaurant-level performance as it recruits franchise partners. According to Item 19 of the 2026 JBM LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, freestanding Jollibee restaurants that operated throughout the 2025 calendar year generated average annual gross sales of US$4,907,120, while in-line restaurants averaged US$5,074,194. The financial performance representation covers 37 freestanding and 40 in-line restaurants that were open for the full year. Freestanding restaurants reported annual gross sales ranging from US$2,053,972 to US$9,820,614, while in-line locations ranged from US$2,205,139 to US$9,407,510. The company notes that these figures represent historical performance and individual franchisee results may vary.
Jollibee’s franchise recruitment drive also follows growing international recognition for the brand. Earlier this year, TIME named Jollibee to its TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2026 list and also recognized it among the publication’s 10 Most Influential Food & Drink Companies, reflecting the company’s expanding global profile.
“We’re excited about where we are today and where we’re headed. The interest we’re seeing from experienced franchise operators, combined with the restaurants we’re opening this year, gives us tremendous confidence as we continue building Jollibee across North America,” Wright added.
Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies. According to the company, JFC operates 19 brands with more than 10,000 stores across 33 countries. Its portfolio includes wholly owned brands such as Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan, as well as franchised brands in the Philippines including Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters and Tiong Bahru Bakery. The group also holds ownership stakes in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Compose Coffee, Highlands Coffee operator SuperFoods Group, and Milksha, among other investments.
