The very image of an orange and yellow striped “jolly” “bee” certainly tugs a smile on anyone’s lips. It has become a household name both in the Philippines and in other countries with a big Filipino community. The iconic mascot is not only synonymous with children’s parties but is also living proof that the Philippines can rival any foreign fast food chain. Tony Tan Caktiong proves how Jollibee can be the “bida” in today’s fast-food world.
The Birth of the Bee of Tony Tan Caktiong
Seeking a greener pasture, the family of Tony Tan Caktiong, Jollibee founder, immigrated from Fujian, China to the Philippines.
His father initially worked as a chef in a Chinese temple in Binondo before being given the opportunity to manage a restaurant in Davao. The family members worked together to support each other. And as a result, they were able to send Tony to a university in Manila.
It was a trip to an ice cream house that Tony became interested in franchising. Using the family savings, they franchised two ice cream houses, one in Cubao and the other in Quiapo. The whole family then went to Manila to focus on the new business. They initially sold just ice cream. But as the business boomed, the family hired people to help them run the two branches. Later on, they also offered hamburgers and fried chicken. The products were well-received by their customers so much so that Tony decided to rebrand the restaurant.
Tony chose the image of a “bee” to represent hard work and happiness as Filipinos are considered happy people. Replacing the word “happy” with “jolly,” the moniker “Jollibee” came to life.
The Inauguration of Jollibee
It was in 1978 when Tony’s family officially opened the first branch of Jollibee in the country. Back then, eating comfort food was a relatively new concept to most Filipinos. However, it became one of the success factors of the fast food chain. Even when McDonald’s, a direct competitor of the brand, entered the Philippine market, Jollibee remained steadfast in its food offerings. This is because the brand understands the Filipinos’ unique penchant for dishes that taste sweet.
Tony Tan Caktiong on Jollibee’s Dominance
As Jollibee became the leading fast food chain in the country, Tony Tan Caktiong began to expand its branches to other countries, like London, US, Vietnam, Scotland, and many more, to give Filipinos living abroad a taste of home. But more importantly, the company began to acquire also other fast food chains, such as Chowking, Greenwich, Delifrance, Red Ribbon, and Mang Inasal.
Tony has also landed on the Forbes list of the Philippines’ 50 Richest, along with other accolades under his belt.
With everything going about for Jollibee, Tony, along with other Filipinos who love Jollibee, definitely has a lot of reasons to “bee” jolly.
Let ImportAnything.Ph Diversify Your Product Offerings
Just as Tony began to offer hamburgers and fried chicken, together with ice cream, you, too, can expand your product offering by importing from other Asian countries.
All you need to do is fill out our online form, and you’re good to go with importing anything you need from abroad. Rest easy knowing that we’ll take care of everything for you, including the requirements of the Bureau of Customs.
