Jollibee opens first Common Man Coffee Roasters in Phl

The Jollibee Group has successfully brought Singapore’s Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) to the Philippines, with the opening of its first cafe at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group president and CEO, said the milestone opening is consistent with the group’s vision to be among the top five restaurant companies in the world.

“We’re excited to bring the Common Man Coffee Roasters in the country and give the community an elevated café experience,” Tanmantiong said.

Established in 2013 in Singapore, Common Man Coffee Roasters offers specialty coffee and all-day brunch.

It has also expanded to Malaysia, and now the Philippines. It also roasts and sells coffee beans and operates the Coffee Barista Academy in Singapore and Malaysia, which provides coffee training to baristas and coffee enthusiasts.

Last August, the Jollibee Group announced its joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) through FCJB Foods Inc. to own and operate Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. The Jollibee Group owns 60 percent in FCJB Foods Inc.

“This is the first café from our partnership with the Spa Esprit Group and we’re looking forward to expanding the Common Man Coffee Roasters experience to more people. The strong collaboration between the two partners is very evident and is greatly rewarded by the enjoyment we see from people upon entering the café and upon tasting our menu selections,” Jollibee Group chief business officer Joseph Tanbuntiong said during the store’s inauguration last week.

The first location in the Philippines also features its own roastery.

“Having a roastery on site for us to showcase the roasting method will not only help the customers understand the coffee process better, but it will also offer a unique dining and sensory experience for them,” said Koon Beng Chua, CEO of the Spa Esprit Group, which operates Common Man Coffee Roasters in Singapore.

The Jollibee Group has a store count of 6,805 stores worldwide as of end November, broken down as follows: Philippines (3,318) and International (3,487): 546 in China, 391 in North America, 333 in EMEA, 757 with Highlands Coffee mainly in Vietnam, 1,146 with CBTL and 314 with Milksha.

Its largest brands by store outlets worldwide are Jollibee with 1,645, CBTL 1,146, Highlands Coffee 757, Chowking 614, and Mang Inasal 571.

The group continues to look for brands to acquire, consistent with its global expansion mode. –