Jollibee eyes Malaysian, Indonesian expansion

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MANILA – As part of its continuing expansion efforts, Jollibee Foods Corporation is now eying to the possibility of venturing into Malaysian as well as re-entering Indonesian markets.

“We hope that within the next two years we will be able to go back to Indonesia and enter Malaysia,” said Jollibee chief financial officer Ysmael Baysa, in an interview for the Manila Bulletin.

In an interview during the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and ING forum, Baysa said that the company is not setting a timetable for acquisitions as “acquisitions can happen very fast if the opportunity comes.”

He added that knowing the market first, is one of the basics, but most important factor that their company is considering before acquiring any business.

Citing similar efforts of their company in Vietnam, Baysa said they are also planning to start small and slow in Malaysia so that they can learn the market before moving on to expansion.

“It’s a learning process. You figure out how consumers find your product, your value, your service. Before you expand, you keep on improving your food products, brands, restaurant service, and marketing. It’s only when these things seem to be working that you go expansion,” he said.