Jollibee Group opens first Common Man cafe

The Jollibee Group announced the opening of the first Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) cafe in the Philippines at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City.

In a statement, the firm said this milestone opening is part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive growth plans this year, consistent with its vision of becoming one of 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,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.

He added that, “Common Man’s consciously sourced coffee and numerous deliciously healthy brunch options contribute to this experience and help fulfill our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone. We invite everyone to come visit our first ever Common Man Coffee Roasters café.”

Established in 2013, Common Man Coffee Roasters aims to champion specialty coffee and the best all-day brunch and has expanded from Singapore 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.

The first location in the country, which has a modern, casual, “come as you are” ambiance, 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 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 in August 2023. 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,” said Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong during the store’s inauguration and opening.

He noted that, “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. We recognize the increasingly discerning palate of Filipinos and we’re here to delight them.”