• by Teresa Buyikian , March 11, 2025

Now new fast-casual business owners can experience their own “Chicken Joy” by owning a piece of one of the Philippines’s most successful exports.

This week Jollibee announced it has launched its own franchise program in the U.S.

The chain, whose  Chicken Joy dish was recently named "the best fast-food fried chicken" in America by USA Today, recently surpassed 100 company-owned units in North America, with 76 stores in 14 U.S. states and 28 stores in Canada. Jollibee currently has 1,700 units globally.

Per the brand, “Jollibee is seeking high-caliber, multiunit franchisees, who can not only bring operational expertise and development capabilities, but also share its passion to bring the joy of eating to everyone.”

U.S Jollibee locations have reported average gross sales of $4.3 million per calendar year. The company also boasts attaining 50 months of consecutive growth, driven by customer transactions.

Per foot traffic research firm Placer.ai, Jollibee experienced a 20% growth in foot traffic from Feb. to Nov. 2024, while the average QSR only saw a 2% increase in customer visits for the same time period.

Jollibee aims to open 350 U.S. and Canadian stores within the “next couple years," with franchise-owned stores projected to make up the majority.

Jollibee is the flagship company of Jollibee Foods Corporation, which has 19 brands with over 9,500 stores across 32 countries. Its portfolio includes  such wholly owned brands  as Jollibee, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan; franchised brands like Burger King and Panda Express in the Philippines; and ownership stakes in other brands such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.