Jollibee plans 35 Australian restaurants under franchise deals

Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee is coming to Australia after securing two franchise deals covering New South Wales and Victoria. The expansion, announced in Manila on 15 November 2026, envisages 35 restaurants and 900 direct jobs, bringing a major international brand into Australia’s franchise community.

Two franchise deals underpin Australian entry

The agreements give Jollibee a franchise-led route into Australia’s two most populous states. Known for fried chicken and sweet spaghetti, the brand is the Philippines’ biggest food chain, outperforming McDonald’s and KFC in its home country.

For Australia’s franchise community, the central development is the commitment to a multi-restaurant expansion rather than an isolated opening. The two deals establish the basis for a presence across NSW and Victoria, with the announced programme extending to dozens of restaurants.

The 35-store figure describes the planned Australian expansion, not an existing local network. Similarly, the employment and investment figures announced alongside it are expectations associated with that expansion, rather than results from restaurants already trading.

That distinction matters when assessing the announcement: Jollibee has secured franchise agreements for its entry, while the delivery of the restaurant network will be the next measure of progress.

Jobs and investment feature in Manila announcement

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Jollibee’s Australian entry at a press conference in Manila, describing the chain as a “symbol of the Philippines”. He presented the expansion as a sign of deepening economic ties between Australia and the Philippines.

“Thirty-five stores, 900 direct jobs, tens of millions of dollars of investment, but as well … the flow-on impact because of the supply chain, will be literally thousands of jobs in Australia,” Albanese said.

The announcement therefore extends beyond restaurant numbers. It connects the planned outlets with direct employment, investment and anticipated activity through the supply chain.

Those categories should be read separately. The 900 figure relates to direct jobs, while the broader employment impact was described by the Prime Minister in terms of flow-on supply-chain activity. His reference to tens of millions of dollars also indicates the anticipated scale of investment without specifying a precise total.

For prospective suppliers and others watching the rollout, the practical significance will lie in how the planned network translates into individual openings and operating requirements.

A global brand with a distinctive home-market identity

Jollibee already operates almost 2,000 locations across 17 countries. Vietnam has its second-largest restaurant network, with 200 locations, followed by the United States with 72.

That international footprint provides context for the Australian move. The brand is entering a new market with experience beyond the Philippines, while retaining a food identity closely associated with its home country.

Speaking alongside Albanese, Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tammantiong said: “We are proud and excited to mark another milestone in our global journey as we bring Jollibee to Australia.”

The Australian announcement also carried a cultural dimension. Albanese said Jollibee would be “a source of pride for Australians of Filipino background”. That places the arrival within a wider relationship between the two countries, rather than presenting it solely as another restaurant expansion.

For the franchise community, the story combines an established international brand, a recognisable menu and a new Australian franchise footprint. Whether that combination translates into local trading success will depend on performance after opening; the announcement itself establishes the planned scale, not the eventual commercial outcome.

What to watch as the expansion progresses

The next meaningful developments will be the translation of the two franchise agreements into restaurants in NSW and Victoria. Individual opening announcements will provide a clearer view of how the 35-store plan takes shape and where the direct employment opportunities emerge.

The distinction between a network commitment and a trading restaurant is particularly useful for anyone assessing opportunities connected with the arrival. A national headline provides an indication of ambition, but location-level developments will be more relevant to specific business decisions.

Practical takeaway: Treat Jollibee’s agreements as a significant new commitment to Australia’s franchise community, while basing recruitment, supply and commercial decisions on confirmed local rollout details.