Jollibee Foods Corporation Mounts Employee-led Mangrove Reforestation Project

Protecting shorelines. Last year, 212 employee volunteers participated in a string of tree-planting activities. The photo shows some Jollibee employees who volunteered planting mangrove propagules in Lemery, Batangas. 

Through the Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. (JGF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), it is still driving change. JGF led a mangrove reforestation program that included a series of tree-planting events that took place in three coastal provinces.

Employees of JFC have planted nearly 4,000 mangrove trees: 1,700 seedlings in Lemery, Batangas, and 2,250 mangrove propagules along the coastlines of Carmen, Cebu, and Alaminos, Pangasinan. 

To bolster its commitment to expand its Mangrove Reforestation project in 2024, Jollibee Foods Corporation and Jollibee Group Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR). Present during the signing were (L-R) Jollibee Group Foundation’s President and Executive Director Gisela Tiongson, Jollibee Foods Corporation’s President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, and Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Vice President and Head of Public Affairs, Atty. Raul Academia. 

The reforestation project, according to JGF President Gisela Tiongson, is a component of JFC's stepped-up efforts to further its global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, in keeping with the goal under the Planet pillar to support responsible planet-stewardship.

“JFC’s 45th anniversary last year marked a special milestone that inspired us to step up our effort in creating value for our stakeholders and in giving back to the environment. Through this mangrove reforestation program, we aim to help restore the mangrove ecosystem and build a more resilient future for our fellow Filipinos living in coastal communities. We are grateful for their assistance and for guiding us throughout the activities, as well as the People’s Organization in Cebu for the mangrove seedlings.” ~Gisela Tiongson, JGF President 

Strengthening collaboration 

 

JGF has worked with national agencies and local community partners to ensure that mangrove planting activities are carried out correctly, with the right species planted in the correct location and season—all of which are critical to ensuring mangrove survival and propagation.

Tiongson acknowledged the assistance offered by DENR SCIS-Strategic Alliance and Environmental Partnership Division, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, DENR Region 7, City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Cebu City and Carmen, and CENRO Calaca, Batangas. 

Fostering employee engagement

 

More than 200 staff members from Jollibee, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Zenith Foods Corporation, and Jollibee Worldwide Services Logistics participated in the reforestation program when it began in 2023. This was a part of JFC's 45th anniversary celebrations as well as the company's employee engagement program.

On April 19, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, JFC President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong, and JGF President and CEO Tiongson signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the project. 

“We are cognizant of the climate emergency we are in, and hence, we are taking steps to contribute to climate mitigation in the work of JGF, together with the company. To this end, we will be investing in mangrove reforestation initiatives with the help of our employee volunteers. And we will be supporting communities in mangrove management. mobilize volunteer employees to participate in the conduct of environmental programs and activities in mangrove reforestation and extend its support to community-based mangrove protection and reforestation activities.” ~Ernesto Tanmantiong, JFC’s President and CEO

Treating the Planet Responsibly. Zenith Foods Corporation and Red Ribbon – Mandaue City employee volunteers plant mangrove propagules in Carmen, Cebu.

This year, JGF intends to expand the knowledge, expertise, and skill set of JFC staff members beyond their job duties by working toward establishing the project as an ongoing program. JGF also intends to carry out mangrove planting operations in Visayas and Mindanao under strict community management in order to further expand the nation's mangrove habitat.

About Jollibee Group 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,800 stores across 33 countries. 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 92% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. The Company also established a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. Recently, the Jollibee Group signed agreements to own 10% ownership in Botrista, a leader in the beverage technology space.  The Company also owns a 90% participating interest in Titan Dining Partners II Ltd to further grow Asia Pacific food service brands and/or bring strong global food service brands to Asia Pacific.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the Company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The Company is also a three-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award and was recently cited in TIME’s List of the World’s Best Companies.  

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com