Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a historic joint visit to a Jollibee restaurant in downtown Vancouver on July 2, 2026, to honor the brand's bilateral trade contributions and its accelerated expansion across Canada.
Historic Visit Marks Milestone for Jollibee in Canada
The visit comes as Jollibee prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in Canada, having entered the market in December 2016 with its first store in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The brand is now poised to become a mainstream culinary staple, with plans to continue rapid nationwide expansion over the next five years through its franchising program.
This high-profile event follows two prestigious 2026 TIME100 honors for Jollibee: a place on the inaugural TIME100 Companies Industry Leaders in Food & Drink top-10 shortlist and recognition on the sixth annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
The visit underscored Jollibee's role as a major driver of bilateral economic activity between the Philippines and Canada. Operating as a key champion of Philippine economic diplomacy, the Jollibee Group establishes a powerful economic loop through goods and services exports.
Jollibee's international expansion directly drives the export of premium Philippine agricultural products. Iconic menu staples, including its world-famous Peach Mango Pies made with sweet Philippine mangoes and other proprietary ingredients, are manufactured in the Philippines and exported directly to Canada, supporting domestic agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Each new Jollibee location opened in Canada represents a major local investment, creating 50 to 60 stable local jobs in communities across the country, according to the company.
A Celebratory In-Store Moment
During the visit, Prime Minister Carney and President Marcos Jr. joined Jollibee North America executives and the iconic Jollibee mascot for a series of commemorative photographs inside the downtown location.
“The immense privilege of hosting both President Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Carney at our downtown Vancouver store is a truly historic moment for our brand,” said Beth Dela Cruz, President of Jollibee North America. “This visit is a powerful symbol of Jollibee’s place on the global stage. It celebrates the deep bilateral ties between Canada and the Philippines, the vital role of the Filipino-Canadian diaspora in our growth, and the incredible momentum of our brand as we bring our unique, joyful dining experience to more Canadian families.”
