MANILA, Philippines. – Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social responsibility arm of Jollibee Group, continues to capacitate youth scholars, farmers, and local farming communities nationwide through its local implementing partners like the Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative (SHSC) in Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur.
JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has been enabling several SHSC members and groups through scholarships and training since 2013.
The Tagudin Agroentrepeneurs Association, Inc. (TAA), was the first farmer group organized by SHSC through the agro-enterprise clustering approach introduced by JGF. SHSC has been assisting TAA in marketing their products, agri-financing and agri technologies, among others..
“Dati kasi wala naman kaming kakayahan na magkaroon ng capital dahil nakatutok lang kami sa pagtatanim. Pero dahil sa tulong ng coop at ng JGF ay natulungan kaming makapagumpisa at magkaroon ng magandang variety ng binhi. Naturuan din kami ng iba pang kaalaman tungkol sa pagsasaka at pagnenegosyo,” said TAA’s General Manager, Michael Lorica. (“Before, we didn’t have the ability to have capital because we only focused on planting. But with the help of the coop and JGF, we were able to start planting and have access to a good variety of seeds. We were also taught other knowledge about farming and doing business.”)
“Bukod pa dito, siyempre malaking bagay rin sa amin na meron na kaming sure buyer para sa aming mga produkto” he added. (“In addition to this, of course it is also a big deal for us that we now have a sure buyer for our products.”)
FEP centers on developing smallholder farmers’ leadership and technical skills by helping them become direct suppliers of high-quality vegetables to corporate buyers such as the Jollibee Group and ensure their sustainable profitability.
With a huge pool of farmers under their cooperative, SHSC farmer members have become part of the Jollibee Group’s growing roster of produce suppliers. They started supplying green bell peppers, tomatoes, and hot peppers to the Jollibee Group in 2018. Apart from vegetables, SHSC has expanded its products for the restaurant company by supplying white onions in 2022. The SHSC farmer members have delivered a total of 170 tons of vegetables to the Jollibee Group to date.
TAA farmers, for their part, have been supplying white onions to the Jollibee Group brands since 2015. They have provided almost 600 tons of their products since their first delivery.
Farmer collaboration
For Lorica, the years of partnership between SHSC and JGF have helped reshape their mindset as member farmers and now, as entrepreneurs.
“Dahil iba-iba ang covered ng seminar ni JGF marami sa mga nakagawiang pamamaraan namin ang nabago. Kasama na rito ang paggamit ng consolidation area to promote food safety at mga training tulad ng AE Clustering Approach, soil testing, at livelihood recovery program. Tinulungan din nila kami na makakuha ng mga sapat na accreditation gaya ng Good Agricultural Practices,” he said. (“Many of our usual methods have been changed because of the different topics covered by JGF’s seminars. This includes using a consolidation area to promote food safety and trainings such as AE Clustering approach, soil testing, and livelihood recovery program. They also helped us get adequate accreditations such as Good Agricultural Practices.”)
“Ngunit para sakin ang isa pang malaking pinapagpasalamat namin sa JGF ay ang pagbibigay nila ng training para sa farming para sa mga kabataan dahil patuloy nang tumatanda ang edad ng mga magsasaka,” Lorica added. (“But for me, another big thing that we’re thankful for about JGF is how they provide farming training for the youth, mainly because the farmers in the country are continuously aging”)
Apart from providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged sectors, JGF, through its Access, Curriculum, and Employability (ACE) Scholarship program, partners with technical-vocational training institutions to provide indigent youth with the opportunity to stay in school by developing their agro-entrepreneurship skills.
The ACE Scholarship Program aligns with the United Nations’ transformative Sustainable Development Goals aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the world, particularly its Quality Education (SDG4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG10) pillars.
Commitment to contribute
JGF has long been committed to developing relevant, effective, and sustainable programs. With the support of its partner communities and institutions, JGF continues to leverage its expertise and resources to create valuable interventions that help uplift the lives of many Filipino farmers.
“We believe that by fostering a sustainable collaboration between the Jollibee Group and FEP partners like SHSC, we help strengthen the future of the country’s agricultural sector. Together with our partners, we will continue to develop FEP into a more inclusive and expansive program that would help address the urgent needs of various farming communities and expose them to new and innovative farming practices,” said JGF President Gisela Tiongson.
Since 2009, the FEP has capacitated 25 farmer groups of more than 3,000 farmers. To date, these farmers have supplied a combined 10.7 million kilos worth of assorted vegetables to Jollibee Group, which amounts to Php477 million in sales.
Other Photos:
Michael Lorica, General Manager of Tagudin Agroentrepreneurs Association (TAA), at his farm in Tagudin, Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur. Sacred Hearts Savings Cooperative (SHSC) created TAA as its first farmer group under FEP in 2013. TAA has been delivering white onions to Jollibee Group since 2015.
About Jollibee Group
Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,600 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.
The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Recently, the Jollibee Group has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines.
The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines’ most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia’s Fab 50 Companies and among the World’s Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.
To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com
