By Katherine Marajas
After 11 months of waiting since its announcement to conquer Europe, Jollibee, home of the famous Chickenjoy, has finally buzzed its way to Milan, Italy March 18.
(Image courtesy of Jollibee)
According to Dennis M. Flores, Jollibee's head of International Operations, the strategy is to introduce the brand as an "alternative Western-inspired quick-service restaurant with superior-tasting, value-for-money products," and to highlight the Chickenjoy and Yumburger (next time, Jollibee Spaghetti).
Jollibee Milan opened at 8 a.m. and patrons stood in the queue for hours waiting outside the store to taste what Jollibee can offer.
"I'm very happy of course. As a Jollibee fan since a child, parang feeling ko nasa Pilipinas ako ulit (it feels like I'm in the Philippines again)," said customer Gerald Bryan.
According to data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Italy is home to the seventh biggest population of expatriate Filipino workers, with close to 272,000 people working there in 2013.
The Filipino fast food chain in Milan has an all-Filipino crew. According to Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello, he hoped Jollibee would expand to other parts of Europe, bringing more job opportunities to Filipinos.
"It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Talagang kayang-kaya nating iharap ang galing natin sa entrepreneurship (It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity, that we can really hold our own when it comes to entrepreneurship)," Bello added.
The Jollibee Milan is at Piazza Diaz on the corner of Flavio Baracchini and Maurizia Gonzaga Streets.
(Image courtesy of Jollibee)
According to Dennis M. Flores, Jollibee's head of International Operations, the strategy is to introduce the brand as an "alternative Western-inspired quick-service restaurant with superior-tasting, value-for-money products," and to highlight the Chickenjoy and Yumburger (next time, Jollibee Spaghetti).
Jollibee Milan opened at 8 a.m. and patrons stood in the queue for hours waiting outside the store to taste what Jollibee can offer.
"I'm very happy of course. As a Jollibee fan since a child, parang feeling ko nasa Pilipinas ako ulit (it feels like I'm in the Philippines again)," said customer Gerald Bryan.
According to data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Italy is home to the seventh biggest population of expatriate Filipino workers, with close to 272,000 people working there in 2013.
The Filipino fast food chain in Milan has an all-Filipino crew. According to Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello, he hoped Jollibee would expand to other parts of Europe, bringing more job opportunities to Filipinos.
"It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Talagang kayang-kaya nating iharap ang galing natin sa entrepreneurship (It is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity, that we can really hold our own when it comes to entrepreneurship)," Bello added.
The Jollibee Milan is at Piazza Diaz on the corner of Flavio Baracchini and Maurizia Gonzaga Streets.