Jollibee Foods Corporation continues to expand its footprint overseas despite the ongoing pandemic, this time opening its first Jollibee store in Rome, Italy.
In a statement, Jollibee said its new Rome branch is along Via Ottaviano, which is only a stone’s throw away from St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
Jollibee’s entry into Rome, known for its stunning architecture and being a top cultural capital of the world, gives the brand an opportunity to cater to thousands of Filipinos living in the city and introduce its menu to the local Italian community.
Over 4,000 pieces of Chickenjoy was served on its first day alone, with Yumburger and Jolly Spaghetti also selling in thousands.
Like its other openings around the world, Jollibee’s opening in Rome drew long lines of eager customers while following physical distancing safety measures.
“Opening our first Jollibee store in the historical city of Rome, especially in a location that is just an 8-minute walk from the Vatican City, is a milestone for us in the Jollibee family,” said Jollibee Group CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.
He noted that, “Ever since our opening in Milan, we saw that there was a huge demand for Jollibee here in Italy and our succeeding openings in the United Kingdom show the appeal of Jollibee in other parts of Europe as well.”
“We are excited to bring Jollibee’s Chickenjoy, other flavorful bestsellers, and the Jollibee experience to more people as we expand in this region,” Tanmantiong added.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank our customers for giving us such a jolly welcome here in Rome,” said Jollibee Foods Corporation President for Europe, Middle East, and Asia Dennis Flores.
He noted that, “The reception we got in Milan, which was our first Jollibee in Europe, then Earl’s Court in London, last month in Liverpool, and now in Rome has been amazing.”
“Even the locals who have never heard about Jollibee are trying it and are coming back for more. We are a step closer to making Jollibee as well-loved in other countries as it is back here,” said Flores.
The Rome location marks the fourth Jollibee branch in Europe. The brand currently has over 1400 stores across the globe, with more stores scheduled to open this year as part of the Jollibee Group’s strategy to selectively open 338 new stores in strategic locations.