Skip to content
The Filipino Entrepreneur The Filipino Entrepreneur

Online resource of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Gadgets and Blogging

  • Business Guide
  • Internet business
  • News
  • Home Based Business
  • Success Stories
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Technology
  • Business Ideas
  • Management
  • Agri Business
The Filipino Entrepreneur
The Filipino Entrepreneur

Online resource of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Gadgets and Blogging

Jollibee Tony Tan

Tony Tan Caktiong: Success Story of Jollibee

Manny, March 7, 2007June 21, 2017

Tony Tan Caktiong was a Filipino Chinese entrepreneur who set up a two-outlet ice cream parlor business in the city of Manila. It was 1975 when he began his business. His father used to operate a kitchen in Fujian,China, which was where Tony’s association with the food services business began.

Jollibee Tony Tan

Eventhough his ice cream parlor business was doing well, Tony wanted to expand in the foods business – in the form of a fast-food outlet chain. He was inspired by the global popularity of companies like McDonald’s which was planning to enter the Philippines during that time, but Wendy’s and Burger King already had a presence in the Philippines.

Tony established his own chain of seven hamburger outlets in 1978 under the name Jollibee. He did not get a franchise like Wendy’s or McDonald’s. Tony and his brother went to the US in 1979 to study the fast-food business. They spent a couple of weeks looking at the kind of equipment used, the retail outlets, the food served and various other things. Tony decided to copy almost each and every aspect of US fast-food majors, particularly McDonald’s and benefited from tested business practices. In so doing he avoided ‘reinventing the wheel.’

Tony was aware that Jollibee could not compete with McDonald’s which had financial muscle and decades of expertise in the business. But by establishing Jollibee in 1978, Tony pre-empted McDonald’s entry into the country.

Jollibee’s strong focus on issues such as product development, operational excellence, customer service, marketing and promotion, and social responsibility, and the leadership helped it become the market leader in the Filipino fast-food industry, beating all the multinational companies. The company has globalization strategies and future prospects in the light of the new challenges it is facing in foreign markets.

As years go by, the Jollibee group of companies grew bigger. Tony Tan Caktiong acquired and established a couple other food chains including Chowking, Red Ribbon, Greenwich, Delifrance and Mang Inasal. Aside from bringing Jollibee, Chowking, and Red Ribbon to other countries, they’ve also established new food chains in China and Taiwan which suit the tastes of the people there.

As of 2016, Tony Tan Caktiong ranked 6th in Forbes’ Philippines’ 50 Richest. He was also awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004.

Related Posts:

  • Business Ideas 2023 Pin It!
    20 Small Business Ideas in the Philippines for 2023
    Starting a business can be an exciting and challenging journey.…
  • success failure pin it!
    Overcoming Fear and Failure in Entrepreneurship:…
    Starting a business can be a daunting task, filled with…
  • Business Plan and Strategy
    The Art of Business Strategy: Navigating the…
    In today's dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, the need…
Success Stories jollibeetony tan Caktiong

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Comments (19)

  1. eduard says:
    February 26, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    very inspiring story. but i have a question because i have research needed in school..who knows the name of the 3 children of tony tan caktiong? for research purpose only. thanks if their is someone answer my question…

  2. JAMES N. ALVAREZ says:
    December 3, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    i ADMIRE YOUR STORY.i AM ABIG FAN OF YOURS.

  3. richie g de la cruz says:
    August 11, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    super standard tlaga ung jollibee when it comes to food service and cleanliness

  4. bhela says:
    June 13, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    haiizz…i hope i can be like him someday..i want also to be successful in business field…

  5. pheey says:
    January 24, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    the beest tlga jollibee :]]
    saraap ung chicken nila unlike the mcdo na ang liit ln nan chicken :))

    bstaa lhat nan fuds dto msaraap :))
    KEEP IT UP ! :]

  6. weng says:
    November 14, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    jollibee is one of my favorite food chain.. when im hungry, jollibee comes first to my mind. hehehe.. my family tease me, that my face seems like a jollibee..wew..the best.. kep it up..

  7. Cominar says:
    November 1, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    His story is indeed inspiring, there’s no doubt about it. But, how I wish fast food chains products are healthy. I think what will threaten the existing fast food chains is the gradual health consciousness of people.

  8. jerik says:
    January 25, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    hi u are so hardworking person

  9. Charlene Mae F. Pura says:
    November 24, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    .,wat a vry nyz story..

    very inspiring!!

    we shud tolerate diz kind of person..

    nver giv up..

    lyf must go on..

    hehe..

    .,ghe, i hope i can be successful as u are!!

    haha..

    ^_^

  10. diana rose c. peralta says:
    October 31, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    hi ang sarap talagang kumain s jollibee.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
    sulit n sulit ang bayad u grabe.,..,.,.,.,.,..,
    tapoz ang delicious p ng mga food.,.,.,,.,.,.,.,.,.,
    amoy p lng ulam n .,.,.,.,,.,..,.,
    hahahahauahauh.,.,.,………….
    promiz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    im not a lyer……………………
    i luv jollibee.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

  11. REY says:
    October 29, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    I really inspire the story of tony tan.. i know we can do it also for our self>>just pray to god and hard working …

  12. kkhaila says:
    August 2, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    hi!!!!!!!

    kip it up jollibee

    o:-)

    :))

  13. khaila says:
    August 2, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    sarap ng spaghetti dyan yummy!!!!

    🙂

    i love it
    hi

  14. patrick john says:
    June 23, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    hi sarap ng chikcken joy

  15. jefferson ruallo says:
    April 23, 2009 at 11:33 pm

    im proud you

  16. Millionaire Acts says:
    February 1, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    I have also written an article about Tony Tan Caktiong and his Jollibee success story. He is truly inspiring to everyone.

  17. Mark Macatimpag says:
    January 29, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    HeLLoW Mga Ka ClaSsMaTeS D2 Na lng Kau Mag Research!

  18. Ninialyn says:
    August 16, 2007 at 8:27 pm

    The story is very inspiring and we can really learn from it…

  19. Krizza Mae says:
    July 5, 2007 at 4:41 pm

    Your life story is so full of life and we can really learn from it

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Links







Categories

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Manny on Sample Letter of Intent to Rent a Space in a Mall
  • Maria Gloria Adan on Sample Letter of Intent to Rent a Space in a Mall
  • Eroll Bonaobra on The Golden Grass

Recent Posts

  • The Art of Business Strategy: Navigating the Competitive Landscape
  • Overcoming Fear and Failure in Entrepreneurship: Tips for Success
  • The Importance of Networking for Entrepreneurs
  • 20 Small Business Ideas in the Philippines for 2023
  • How to Turn Your Passion into a Profitable Business
©2025 The Filipino Entrepreneur | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes