Manila, Philippines – The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social development arm of the Jollibee Group, brought together the local implementing partners (LIPs) of its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) from August 19 to 21, strengthening collaboration and deepening shared commitment to help farmers build better livelihoods.
The three-day workshop, titled Journey to Growth: Strengthening Capacities, Advancing Farmer Enterprises, focused on giving LIPs practical tools and opportunities to learn from one another. The sessions helped partners find new ways to guide farmer groups more effectively, so they can become stronger, more sustainable farming communities.
“This workshop ensures that our partners are equipped with the right tools and knowledge to guide our farmer groups more effectively,” said Gisela Tiongson, President of Jollibee Group Foundation. “As the FEP program continues to grow, we want out partners to grow with us, providing support that truly responds to the unique needs of each farming community they work with.”
Training for the Future
The capacity building activity gathered participants from local governments, microfinance institutions, cooperatives, farmer leaders, academe, and representatives from Jollibee Group business units – all united by a common goal: to help farmers grow their enterprises and strengthen their role in the food value chain.
Over three days, the partners took part in a mix of learning sessions and peer discussions led by subject matter experts from various fields. The sessions showed what it takes to run a successful farm business- from good customer service and efficient operations to sound financial management. The sessions also encouraged participants to reflect on how they can guide farmer groups not just in growing crops, but in becoming dependable suppliers to bigger markets.
One highlight was the presentation of action plans by LIPs to strengthen the farmer enterprises they are supporting, which were reviewed by fellow LIPs, creating a space for peer-to-peer learning and fresh ideas that they can bring back to their communities. These presentations reflected the action plans developed during the workshop, anchored on real data, insights, and shared experiences.
“We learned a lot from the sessions on how we can strengthen our support to the farmers in our communities. We sincerely thank JGF for the continued guidance so we can be more effective and grow together. (Marami po kaming natutunan sa sessions upang paigtingin pa ang suporta namin sa mga magsasaka sa aming lugar. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa JGF sa patuloy na paggabay sa amin upang mas maging epektibo pa at magtulungan upang sama-sama tayong umunlad.),” shared Justine Lynn Limocon, Manager of the Business Development Center at Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative.
The 2025 Journey to Growth Workshop is part of Jollibee Group Foundation’s ongoing effort to ensure farmers have the right support system—partners who are capable, aligned, and committed to building thriving farming communities.
For more information on Jollibee Group, visit Jollibee Group’s official website.
- Jollibee Group’s official website – https://jollibeegroup.com/planet/
About Jollibee Group Foundation
Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) is the social development arm of the Jollibee Group. Established in 2004, the Foundation envisions every Filipino family to have food on the table. It builds partnerships and strengthens community capacities for resilience and self-reliance.
JGF promotes access to food through programs in agro-entrepreneurship, education, and disaster response, in collaboration with partners in the Philippines and abroad. Its flagship programs include the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), which enables smallholder farmers to supply institutional markets; the Access, Curriculum, and Employability (ACE) Scholarship Program, which supports youth pursuing agriculture-related skills training; and FoodAID, which delivers immediate food assistance in times of crisis.
Under its ‘Joy of Learning’ banner, JGF implements the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen Program to address hunger and malnutrition among public school children and recently launched the Classroom Building Project in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
Through these initiatives, JGF continues to spread the Joy of Sharing by working alongside communities to create lasting, meaningful change.
About Jollibee Group
The Jollibee Group (PSE: JFC) is one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies, driven by its purpose of spreading joy through superior taste. Its portfolio includes 19 brands with over 9,900 stores across 33 countries.
The Jollibee Group’s portfolio includes nine wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan), five franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery in the Philippines), and ownership stakes in other key brands like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (80%), Compose Coffee (70%), SuperFoods Group that operates Highlands Coffee (60%), and bubble tea brand Milksha (51%). The Company also has membership interests in Tortazo, LLC, along with Chef Rick Bayless, for Tortazo in the U.S. and has recently invested in Botrista, a leader in beverage technology.
The Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, underscores its commitment to sustainable business practices across food safety, employee welfare, community support, good governance, and environmental responsibility, among others. These focus areas are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The Jollibee Group has been recognized as the Philippines’ Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal, named one of Asia’s Fab 50 Companies, and listed among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers and Top Female-Friendly Companies. The Company is also a three-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award recipient and featured in TIME’s World’s Best Companies and Fortune’s Southeast Asia 500 List.
To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com
