Insider Spotlight
Sarwar and UK Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton, OBE, were welcomed at Jollibee's BGC Triangle Drive store by Jollibee Group chair and founder Tony Tan Caktiong and global chief business support officer William Tan Untiong on Sept. 23.
Why it matters
The visit marks the first by a UK trade minister to the Philippines in nine years, putting Jollibee — one of the country's most recognizable homegrown brands — in the picture as the two countries pursue closer economic engagement.
The stop also gives a consumer-facing dimension to the broader relationship between the Philippines and UK, with a Filipino multinational serving as a showcase of the country's homegrown business sector during Sarwar's visit.
What's on the menu
Sarwar and Hulton toured the store, met crew members and sampled Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti, Champ Burger, Chicken Nuggets and Peach Mango Pie, according to a Jollibee Group release.
Sarwar also chatted with customers and crew, took selfies and received his own Jollibee Funko Pop figure dressed in a Barong Tagalog.
The bigger picture
The Jollibee visit comes as the Philippines and UK seek to expand their trade and investment relationship, making Sarwar's first ministerial trip to the country a venue for strengthening government and business connections.
For Jollibee, the visit puts a familiar Filipino brand alongside that economic diplomacy. The restaurant company has increasingly expanded beyond its home market, giving it a role in bringing Philippine brands and tastes to consumers overseas.
Jollibee Group currently manages 20 brands with more than 10,700 stores and cafés across 33 countries, according to the company.
Sarwar's stop at the BGC store therefore carried significance beyond sampling Filipino fast-food favorites: it brought a homegrown multinational into a high-level visit aimed at deepening the relationship between the Philippines and the UK. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
