The Jollibee Group’s Global General Counsel & Ethics Head and Compliance Officer Atty. Valerie Feria Amante was named the In-House Lawyer of the Year by the 19th Annual Asian Legal Business (ALB) Southeast (SE) Asia Law Awards 2023. Amante is the only Filipino individual awardee this year.
The ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2023, judged by an independent panel of senior and expert legal industry leaders from various sectors across the region, recognizes the exceptional performance of private practitioners and in-house counsel in SE Asia.
“I am honored to have been recognized as In-House Lawyer of the Year for Southeast Asia. I have always believed that Filipinos can stand proud alongside the best in the world, and I am happy to be one of many examples showing this to be true,” said Amante.
As the Global General Counsel & Ethics Head and Compliance Officer of the Jollibee Group, Amante leads a team of 19 lawyers and 10 paralegals spanning six countries: the Philippines, China, Vietnam, the USA, Singapore, and Ireland.
“This award represents the work of the great team of lawyers and paralegals across our offices in six countries that comprise the Legal organization in the Jollibee Group, as well as the collaboration of colleagues from different functions and businesses,” she expounded.
Rewarding in-house legal career
Amante has been with the Jollibee Group for over 16 years and has led the development of the legal, ethics, and compliance functions as integral components in Jollibee Group’s growth and expansion.
“Building an effective multinational legal organization to ensure our businesses everywhere have access to quality support; setting standards, policies, and processes to facilitate legal consistency and alignment globally, balanced with agility and flexibility locally; creating and disseminating tools to empower people and manage legal risks at scale; and providing our team’s perspective in conversations at all levels to enable legally-informed business decisions — all contribute to making legal, ethics and compliance integral to the Jollibee Group’s way of doing business,” Amante added.
Amante graduated as a Salutatorian of the University of the Philippines College of Law in 2000 and placed 7th in the Philippine Bar Examinations of the same year. After starting her career in a large law firm and another publicly listed company, she joined JFC in 2007. 2016 she was awarded the ALB Philippine In-House Lawyer of the Year. This time, she won the In-House Lawyer of the Year award for SE Asia.
“My inclusion is a direct result of the meaningful, high-impact, and interesting work that I have had the opportunity to do in the Jollibee Group, and the support that JFC has given me to continuously grow and elevate the function,” Amante said.
Inclusive legal organization
“We are committed to equal opportunities and hiring based on merit. Over 70% of the legal organization in the Jollibee Group are women, and two lawyers, including myself, are Persons with Disability (PWD),” Amante said.
Asked for her piece of advice to young lawyers, Amante said: “Anchor yourself on integrity and excellence. Know your values and priorities, and act accordingly. Treat everyone – including yourself – with respect. Also, having a sense of humor helps!”
The Jollibee Group continues to celebrate women by fostering an encouraging work environment that allows its female employees around the world to grow and develop.
The Jollibee Group was the only Philippine-based company to make Forbes’ inaugural list of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies in 2021, demonstrating its dedication to supporting and developing women to their full potential. In the Philippines, women make up the majority of Jollibee Group’s management positions.
As a testament to Jollibee Group’s unwavering support for women, several female employees have risen through the ranks and now leading their respective functions like Cynthia Castro.
Cynthia Castro (seated on the chair, middle) rose from being an entry-level accountant to now Vice President and Finance Head for Jollibee Group’s Philippine Business. With her in the photo is the Jollibee Philippines Finance Team, which she concurrently heads.
Castro began working for Jollibee in 1987 as an accountant. She was promoted to accounting supervisor for the company’s commissary and later to accounting manager for the company’s new businesses. Castro was the finance head of Jollibee Philippines’ Northern Luzon unit before being promoted to the position of Vice President and Finance Head.
“I can sum up my professional journey in two words: gratitude and pride,” she said. “Gratitude because they hired me as a fresh graduate in 1987 and saw my potential to grow in the company, and pride because I work for one of the World’s Best Employers and work with the best leaders in the industry. All of this motivated me to do more, be more, and become more.”
In 2022, Castro was among the finalists for the WeQual Awards, which recognizes female leaders in business. She was the sole Filipina cited in the Award’s Asia-Pacific Finance Category.
Thriving in a male-dominated profession
Yoly Chua thrives as a leader in a traditionally male-dominated field: information technology. She is the Vice President and Head of Business Technology for Jollibee Group’s business in the Philippines, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (EMEAA).
Yoly Chua (seated in the middle) posted this photo on her LinkedIn account celebrating all the women who work with her in Jollibee Group’s Business Technology (BT) Division, where she is now Vice President and Head for Philippines and EMEAA Regions.
Chua was hired in 2016 to help stabilize SAP in the company and led the Information Management Enterprise Business Solutions team. After two years, she was promoted to Information Technology (IT) Head for the Philippine Region. In 2021, Chua was given the task of overseeing and governing EMEAA’s Business Technology function.
“I appreciate the growth opportunities I’ve had in my more than 6 years stay with the company. The values of the people I work with–their unwavering malasakit for the company, the trust of the management and our teams, and the stewardship of doing what is best for the company inspire me to work harder and continue doing better,” she said.
Chua strongly believes women can shine in any industry or position given the right opportunity. “Women are empathetic and good listeners. Our instinct to protect, care and support our people makes leading effectively easier,” she said.
Driving culture and engagement
Ruth Angeles began her career with the Jollibee Group as a human resources manager for Jollibee Worldwide Services. She later became the HR head for the company’s Red Ribbon and Jollibee business units.
Ruth Angeles (seated, 3rd from the left, front row) is shown with some members of the HR Team in one of their quarterly teaming activities. Ruth is now Vice President and leads the Regional HR Team in the Philippines.
Already in her 17th year with the company, Angeles is now Vice President, leading the Regional HR Team in the Philippines. She is concurrently the head of the Global Organization, Leadership, and Culture Team.
Aside from driving culture and engagement in the company, Ruth has also been instrumental in enabling the successful pivot of the HR function and was key in the organization’s transformation, resulting in a much stronger and more resilient workforce post-pandemic. She has likewise been vital in developing and building leaders in boosting organizational capabilities.
“JFC has been helpful in my development as a people manager and HR leader. The company’s devotion to providing career advancement opportunities and inclusive leadership training allows women leaders and employees to excel in their development,” she said.
Castro, Chua, and Angeles are part of a thriving community of female leaders in the Jollibee Group who are helping drive the company’s mission and its journey toward its vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world.
Jollibee Group also released its first-ever global sustainability report which details the progress it has made toward the pursuit of its sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet.
The Jollibee Group launched last March 16 its Global Sustainability Agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to further strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices.
While Jollibee Group has made significant strides over its 45-year history in various social and environmental projects, it is now purposely integrating all its sustainability efforts into a more cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, toward a set of shared sustainability goals.
Dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group launched its Global Sustainability Agenda with 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 will showcase initiatives and goals that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
With Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group stays true to its mission of bringing the joy of eating to everyone, acknowledging that this mission extends not only to its customers and stakeholders today, but also to future generations. The company recognizes that it must use its global scale, resources, and expertise to help usher in a more sustainable future for society and the planet.
“Our challenge in Jollibee Group is how to sustain our success while creating a positive impact on our society and planet. As one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in the world, and with our vision to become one of the top companies in our industry, we recognize that we have a significant role and responsibility in impacting positive change,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.
The Joy for Tomorrow Sustainability Agenda centers on three pillars namely Food, People, and Planet. These pillars consist of 10 focus areas: 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).
According to Jollibee Group Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer Pepot Miñana, Joy for Tomorrow is the company’s roadmap for achieving the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. “It’s a call to action for everyone in Jollibee Group, amid pursuing our sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet. It is our commitment to future generations to preserve and improve natural resources from which they can benefit,” Miñana said.
Serving food that people trust
Jollibee Group prioritizes food safety and quality to maintain the trust of its customers worldwide.
In 2022, the company conducted over 15,000 Food, Service, and Cleanliness (FSC) Audits across its stores worldwide, while over 125,600 online training hours were devoted to Food, Service, Cleanliness & Condition. Moreover, 100% of its stores, commissaries, and logistics facilities have undergone rigorous Quality Management audits. The group also achieved a global Net Promoter Score of 82, exceeding the industry benchmark of 50, showcasing customer satisfaction and loyalty for the various brands.
Helping make people’s lives better
Jollibee Group recognizes its invaluable role in fostering an inclusive work environment for its employees, partners, farmers, and communities.
In 2022, women made up 59% of management positions and 51% of the total workforce. Through training courses on Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and Anti-Discrimination, the company educates its employees on the value and benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. As a measure of high employee engagement, the group achieved the 70th percentile of Gallup’s Q12 percentile ranking.
Outside of the organization, Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has enabled over 700 smallholder farmers across the Philippines to deliver their produce directly to Jollibee Group. Today, the white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, calamansi, ginger, and other vegetables that the company uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal products come from FEP farmers.
Treating the planet responsibly
In terms of environmental sustainability, Jollibee Group focuses on the key areas of packaging and recycling, energy, water, and waste.
By the end of 2022, Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved a 21% reduction in energy use ratio, a 23% reduction in water use ratio, and a 38% reduction in waste, with almost 50% of waste now being recycled versus the company’s 2020 benchmarks. On the store level, each solar panel installed reduces about 3-7% of consumption from the grid.
Progress over perfection
“We understand that assessing our impact is a continuous process of ambition and refinement. We will track the success of our strategies over the coming years, and periodically review our material topics and stakeholder engagement process. We will set agile goals and targets to help us significantly impact society and the environment more meaningfully,” Tanmantiong said.
Apart from establishing a unit dedicated to sustainability and the appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer as part of its Executive Team, Jollibee Group also instituted an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Council to ensure that its business operations are aligned with the sustainability goals.
“Our Global Sustainability Agenda represents our belief system in conducting business more ethically. As a global food company, we are responsible and deliberate with our actions and their impact, and we are making our sustainability measures the way of the future,” added Miñana.
Jollibee Group and Manila LGU officials convened anew for the signing of a new memorandum of agreement that will create employment opportunities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Jollibee-owned stores across Manila City.
MANILA, Philippines. The Jollibee Group recently announced the resumption of its inclusive employment program to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in Manila after renewing its partnership with the city government of Manila.
The partnership is consistent with Jollibee Group’s commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to different sectors while promoting and practicing inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.
Jollibee Group will hire 28 senior citizens and 17 PWDs as customer relations staff across the Manila branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King through the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Manila PESO will screen and determine qualified candidates before endorsing them to the company. Applicants must also secure a medical clearance from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, the accredited hospital for this program.
“We started this program in 2019 with the Manila LGU. Working on this program in the past few years has allowed us to see how our elderly and differently-abled individuals have appreciated the opportunity to find gainful employment. The Jollibee Group continues to support this initiative of the Manila LGU, and we have been very fortunate to have a partner that shares the same desire and passion as the company in looking after the interest of our elderly and PWDs,” said Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Group Vice President and Head for Human Resources-Philippines and Global Organization, Leadership & Culture.
“We look forward to forging more partnerships with other LGUs so we can improve more lives and find reliable staff who can join us in our mission to share the joy of eating with everyone,” Angeles added.
The signing of the new memorandum of agreement held last January 31 was attended by Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, and Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marlon Lacson, as well as officials from Jollibee Group represented by Public Affairs AVP Atty. Raul Academia and Philippine Region Human Resources Director Anna Prado.
Interested applicants can get more information on this employment program from the Manila Department of Social Welfare and the Office of Senior Citizen’s Affairs.
Back in 2019, Jollibee Group was the first restaurant company in the Philippines to partner with the Manila LGU in providing jobs to over a hundred qualified senior citizens and PWDs in the combined 39 branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, and Greenwich in Manila. Besides Manila, Jollibee Group also partnered with the LGUs of Antipolo and Pasay in 2019 to implement the same inclusive employment program.
TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY, USA. 12 August 2022 – Another first in its international expansion plan, homegrown restaurant chain Jollibee will open in the heart of the iconic Times Square, New York on August 18, 2022. The newest store opening forms part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive overseas expansion and sustained growth in one of its key pillar markets, North America.
Also known as the “Crossroads of the World,” Times Square is a top global commercial and entertainment hub. Jollibee Times Square will be located right beside Good Morning America and in the Bowtie, where the famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop takes place. The store is expected to attract new fans and introduce the brand to more mainstream American customers.
“We are excited to spread the joy of eating to everyone and contribute to the diverse and exciting food scene in Times Square,” shared Maribeth Dela Cruz, Jollibee Group’s President for Philippine Brands (Jollibee, Chowking, and Red Ribbon) in North America.
The Times Square branch will offer Jollibee menu favorites, including the world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken and Chicken Sandwich – each with its own spicy variant, and other favorites such as Peach Mango Pie and Jolly Spaghetti.
Now with 84 locations across North America and over 1,500 restaurants worldwide, Jollibee continues to grow its presence in the U.S. and Canada, with plans of reaching 500 stores in the next five to seven years. Jollibee is the flagship brand of the Jollibee Group, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant companies. To learn more about Jollibee and other brands of the Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com.
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