The blockbuster finish, based on still-unaudited results, pushed full-year systemwide sales up 16.6 percent, beating company targets and reinforcing the strength of its brands at home and abroad.
The performance comes as JFC lays the groundwork to spin off its international business by next year, seeking to unlock value from operations that are now growing faster than its core Philippine unit.
“Our preliminary fourth-quarter results reflect a clear acceleration in topline momentum, with SWS reaching a new all-time high alongside the highest level of gross store openings in the company’s history,” Richard Shin, chief financial and risk officer, said in a stock exchange filing on Monday.
At home and overseas
The Philippine business grew systemwide sales by 9.7 percent in the fourth quarter, powered by Jollibee at 9.8 percent, Mang Inasal at 20.5 percent and Chowking at 5.4 percent. Same store sales growth came in at 5 percent, signaling steady traffic and resilient consumer spending beyond pure network expansion.
International operations moved faster.
Systemwide sales overseas climbed 15.4 percent, outpacing the domestic business and reinforcing the company’s pivot toward global scale.
International same store sales growth reached 5.5 percent. Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia Philippine brands (EMEAA) expanded 11.9 percent, Jollibee North America rose 12.6 percent and China increased 5 percent, pointing to improving demand across key regions.
Healthy profitability metrics
Preliminary figures show earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization grew by mid-teens in the fourth quarter.
Moreover, net operating income also exceeded internal targets, indicating that margins are holding firm even as the store base expands at a record clip.
“This performance underscores broad-based demand across both our Philippines and International businesses, the strength of our brandfolio, and the scalability of our growth platforms,” Shin said.
Scaling up
Highlands Coffee is now closing in on 1,000 stores, a sharp rise from just 56 when JFC acquired a 50 percent stake in 2012 for $25 million. The brand has become one of the group’s most powerful international growth engines.
Jollibee North America crossed $500 million in systemwide sales, with average daily sales of about $15,000 per store and more than 1 million loyalty app users, underscoring deeper customer engagement.
Tim Ho Wan’s systemwide sales surged to P8.1 billion in 2025 from P1.30 billion in 2024 after JFC assumed full ownership and consolidated global operations, dramatically expanding the brand’s revenue base.
Total stores rose 5.9 percent to 10,341 outlets, marking the highest level of gross openings in the company’s history and highlighting the scale of its expansion push.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
