Jollibee to make operations more sustainable, says exec

Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. on Wednesday said it will launch in March its global sustainability program that will focus on “food, people and the planet.”

Jollibee President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said expanding the company’s sustainability initiatives will provide more value to its various stakeholders, including its customers, employees, investors, suppliers and communities where Jollibee group operates.

“Our sustainability agenda serves as an anchor for sustaining our growth momentum while contributing to create a better future for all. We want to serve food that people trust, treat the planet responsibly, and help make people’s lives better,” Tanmantiong said.

“We called it ‘Joy for Tomorrow’ because it reflects our commitment to continuously live our mission of bringing the joy of eating to everyone—now and in the future.”

Jollibee’s chief sustainability and public affairs officer Pepot Miñana said the group has had several sustainability programs in the areas over the years. However, it is in this time where an integrated strategic agenda was created to provide the framework to guide all sustainability actions of the company. It will integrate past programs such as its food safety and quality management programs and also the farmer entrepreneurship program of the Jollibee Group Foundation.

“With our Sustainability Agenda in place, we are strengthening our efforts by looking at all areas of operations and markets and prioritizing aspects where we have the greatest impact,” Miñana said.

“For instance, we’ll talk about our Responsible Sourcing Program for key ingredients, and the significant progress in our Supply Chain Sustainability Program. We look forward to sharing more about our sustainability initiatives and goals as we launch next year.”

Jollibee has also formalized an ESG Council with their CEO as its key sponsor, to ensure that its business operations are aligned with its sustainability agenda and goals.

“As one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world and the largest in the Philippines, Jollibee recognizes its responsibility and opportunity to impact sustainability issues in the quick service industry. We remain committed in driving our business growth guided by our mission and values, with sustainability as the backbone of our journey,” Tanmantiong said.