Jollibee

For decades, Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee has been a leader in its home market, outselling McDonald’s and KFC. But the plucky fried-chicken joint, whose mascot is a grinning, bowtie-clad bee, is itself a global giant; it is the flagship brand of Jollibee Group, which controls 19 restaurants, including Smashburger, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Burger King Philippines, and Chowking. In February 2026, the consultancy Brand Finance ranked Jollibee the 18th most valuable restaurant brand globally, but president and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong says he aims to turn it into a top-five player. Jollibee’s global expansion may help close the gap. In 2025, the company launched its first franchising program in the U.S. and currently operates more than 100 locations across North America; Tanmantiong says the brand aims to open 350 stores across the continent in coming years, and plans to add more than 1,200 stores globally in 2026 alone. Despite the international growth, Tanmantiong says it is “absolutely vital” that the company stays true to its Filipino identity: “It is the heartbeat of our global journey.”