The Jollibee Group, through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) in partnership with the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), is reinforcing sustainable business practices and contributes to the improvement of the economy by empowering smallholder farmers. Joseph Tanbuntiong, CEO of Jollibee Group Philippines highlighted during his speech at the inaugural Agriculture and Food Security Summit that sourcing directly from farmer cooperatives has become a key procurement growth strategy of the company.

MANILA, Philippines. 01 October 2024 – The Jollibee Group, through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) in partnership with the Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. (JGF), is reinforcing sustainable business practices and contributes to the improvement of the economy by empowering smallholder farmers.

FEP provides training, resources, and direct market access to these farmers, making them long-term partners in Jollibee Group’s supply chain. This initiative not only strengthens the company’s procurement strategy but also improves the livelihoods of Filipino farmers.

“In our pursuit of a sustainable supply chain and our commitment to inclusive business practices, we had to take a close look at how our company can be part of the solution in improving the plight of the farmers. This is why our social development arm, the Jollibee Group Foundation, created the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, CEO of Jollibee Group Philippines. Tanbuntiong made the remarks during his speech at the Makati Business Club’s Agriculture and Food Security Summit last September 16.

With the theme, “Food is Everyone’s Business,” the summit brought together key figures to address pressing food security issues and to empower the farming sector through collaboration. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel delivered a keynote on the Nine-Point Plan of the government.

During the inaugural Makati Business Club’s Agriculture and Food Security Summit, Jollibee Group Foundation President Gisela Tiongson highlighted the need for farmers to earn profitably to make agriculture an appealing long-term career including the youth.

Sustainable Procurement in Action

Jollibee Group brands, including Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal, source various vegetables—such as onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers—directly from FEP farmers. In 2023, 24% of Jollibee Group’s onion supply came from FEP farmers, with plans to increase this to 33% by end of 2024. This sustainable approach ensures a reliable supply while supporting environmental and economic sustainability.

“Intending to strengthen our partnership with them, our procurement team has committed to prioritizing sourcing produce from the FEP farmers to ensure cost leadership, and supply resiliency, and contribute to the development of the local economy,” added Tanbuntiong.

Empowering Farmers Through FEP

Since its launch in 2008, FEP has organized over 1,000 farmers into 30 groups across 16 localities. These farmers have supplied more than 11 million kilograms of vegetables to the Jollibee Group, generating PHP 500 million in sales. Beyond procurement, FEP trains farmers in agro-entrepreneurship, helping them operate as business partners. The program ensures that farmers meet stringent quality standards, such as Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification. Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative, a key FEP farmer group, became the first onion cooperative in the Philippines to achieve a PhilGAP certification in 2017.

Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainability

FEP’s success is built on strong partnerships with local government units, microfinance institutions and cooperatives, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and academic institutions. Recently, JGF signed a three-year agreement with the DA to train more farmers nationwide in value chain development, further scaling the program.

“Our work with farmers has not been just about procurement. It was a collaborative effort in promoting innovation, process improvement, and benchmarking best practices or new technology in agricultural value chain management. This collaboration across cross-functional teams within Jollibee Group and other like-minded groups has fostered shared responsibility,” said Tanbuntiong.

At the summit, Gisela Tiongson, President of JGF, emphasized the importance of building strong farmer cooperatives that go beyond financial services to include consolidation, marketing, and other value-adding activities. “Most farmers are not formally trained as entrepreneurs, so they need support to put in place the needed financial, human resource, and enterprise system,” she said.

Tiongson highlighted the need for farmers to earn profitably to make agriculture an appealing long-term career. “The goal is for farmers’ children to say, ‘I will stay in this industry because I can earn well for my family.’”

JGF signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join forces with MBC and other companies to work together in empowering farmer cooperatives to achieve a sustainable supply chain.

Transformative Impact

FEP has had a transformative impact, providing farmers with stable incomes, access to financial services, and improved living conditions. With the help of partners, the program has also provided warehousing and cold storage facilities, enabling farmers to scale operations sustainably.

“Reflecting on the past 16 years of Jollibee Group and Jollibee Group Foundation working with cooperatives and farmers, I am reminded of the incredible power of participation and inclusion —what can be achieved when we come together, united by a shared purpose. Our experience with FEP and the farmer cooperatives demonstrate that meaningful change is not only possible but sustainable.” concluded Tanbuntiong.

The preliminaries of SM Super Spelling Bee in SM City Masinag was held at the mall atrium.

The young spelling battled it out at the SM Super Spelling Bee preliminary round in SM City Masinag last September 27 at the mall atrium. Students in Grades 4-6 from the surrounding schools in Antipolo City and Marikina City vie for the best spellers in the oral and written rounds of the contest.

At the end of the spelling bee, it was Queencess Milado, 6thgrader of the Antipolo Immaculate Conception School, who emerged as the best among her opponents in the SM Super Spelling Bee and was hailed as a finalist representing SM City Masinag.

Contestants spell out the word ‘Disguise’ during the SM Super Spelling Bee at SM City Masinag

Antipolo Immaculate Conception School 6th grader Queencess Milado was hailed as the preliminary top contender, winning Php 10,000 worth of SM Gift Certificates from SM, Php 10,000 in Gift Certificates from National Bookstore and Php 3,000 in Gift Certificates from Jollibee. She will compete at the Grand Finals that will be held in SM Mall of Asia.

On October 11, the graders of Marikina City compete for the top spot in the preliminary round of the SM City Marikina leg of the SM Super Spelling Bee. The winner from the contest will also advance to the Grand Finals which will be held in SM Mall of Asia along with the other preliminary winners from other SM Malls.

National University professor Christopher Jorge Benta was the pronouncer during the SM Super Spelling Bee at the SM City Masinag leg. He guided contestants with the pronunciation and definition of words spelled out.

The SM Super Spelling Bee consists of two rounds: the oral and written challenges. During the oral round, spellers must spell out words on the microphone, while contestants must write the right spelling of words on designated white boards and flash them during the written round.

The Grand Winner will receive P50,000 in cash and SM Gift Certificates, Php 150,000 in National Book Store Gift Certificates, Php 10,000 in Gift Certificates from Jollibee, a new laptop from Power Mac Center, and school tuition discounts from the National University (NU).

Jollibee Group employees from various functions planted 1,500 mangrove propagules during a reforestation activity in Brgy. Guinsay, Danao City, Cebu, on August 10, 2024. The activity was held in celebration of the International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

MANILA, Philippines.– With nearly 7,000 mangrove propagules planted to date, the Jollibee Group, through its social development arm, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), sustains its commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change through ongoing mangrove reforestation projects led by dedicated employees from across the country.

Mangroves play a crucial role in safeguarding coastal regions, reducing erosion, and absorbing the impact of storm surges during hurricanes. Their dense root systems not only stabilize and build soils but also serve as nurseries for a diverse array of species, including fish, prawns, and crabs. Furthermore, mangrove reforestation enhances local ecosystems and marine life, thereby helping maintain food security and providing livelihoods to fisherfolks in surrounding communities.

Rehabilitating mangrove ecosystems supports sustainable aquaculture practices by creating breeding grounds for fish and crustaceans. This can lead to improved yields in coastal fisheries, providing food and income.

The ongoing project forms part of the Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda dubbed “Joy for Tomorrow.” Under its Planet pillar, the company has set goals and initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 2 Zero Hunger.

The Jollibee Group has supported the planting of close to 4,000 mangrove propagules in 2023, with the support of partners, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units (LGUs). It remains committed to sustaining the project this year, planting 3,000 mangrove propagules thus far.

Employee engagement

Jollibee Group employees from different functions and business units together with JGF held a series of planting activities along the coastlines of Alaminos, Pangasinan, Carmen, Cebu, and Lemery, Batangas this year.

In celebration of the International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, 30 employee-volunteers from Jollibee Group’s commissary Zenith Foods have also planted 1,500 mangrove propagules during the reforestation activity held in Brgy. Guinsay, Danao City, Cebu last August 2024.

JGF’s mangrove reforestation project aims to help restore the country’s mangrove ecosystem and build a resilient future for Filipinos living in coastal communities.

“Our employees have always played a big role in our environmental efforts, and it’s amazing to see them leading the charge in our mangrove reforestation project. Their leadership and participation reflect our vision of reaching out to communities and giving back to the environment,” said JGF President Gisela Tiongson. “We’re also grateful for the guidance from the DENR and the support of our LGU partners, which are key to ensuring the mangroves thrive. Moving forward, we’ll keep tapping into the power of employee volunteerism and working closely with our partners to inspire more people to be responsible stewards of the planet.”

JGF is dedicated to expanding the reach of this project nationwide. With plans already in place, the Foundation will lead more Mangrove Tree Planting activities in Cavite and Bulacan, in the last quarter of the year, further strengthening its impact on environmental protection and community resilience.