3838. Champ

Description: How can we forget the beloved national fastfood chain? The Champ claims to have an extra big patty and, at 1/3 pound, it’s definitely bigger than most. It also claims to be 100% beef. Unlike the other Jollibee burgers, the Champ is served with fresh tomatoes and lettuce. But can the Champ’s superior weight class, coupled with the popularity of the ‘Bee, give it the oomph it needs to win Battle Burger?

Comments: Unfortunately, the Champ wasn’t much of a champion in this taste test. Although it was big, it was also a bit bland—in fact there isn’t enough taste to make you want to finish the whole thing. A couple of our panelists wondered why they replaced Jollibee’s special sauce—a popular condiment in their other burgers, for sure—with piles of mayo instead. When it comes to Jollibee, it seems like the good ol’ Yumburger is still much better at delivering that sought-after, comforting, Pinoy taste, which is probably why you came to Jollibee in the first place.

Jollibee Foods Corporation (PSE: JFC) (widely known as Jollibee) is a fast-food restaurant chain based in the Philippines. As of December 2007, Jollibee has become one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world with 1,655 stores worldwide (although its own web site claims only 600) and total sales of more than US$1 billion.  As of March, 2008, JFC has 1,466 stores in the Philippines namely, Jollibee (627), Chowking (377), Greenwich Pizza (236), Red Ribbon Bakeshop (194), Délifrance (28) and Manong Pepe's. According to its own web site, it has 23 stores overseas. As of end-September, 2008, JFC has 1,490 local and 228 foreign stores in its portfolio.

Tony Tan Caktiong and his family opened a Magnolia Ice Cream parlor in Cubao in 1975. The original name was Jolibe. Sometime in 1978, Tony Tan and his brothers and sisters, being partners, engaged the services of a management consultant in the person of Manuel C. Lumba. Lumba became Tony Tan's first business and management mentor.
Consultant Lumba shifted the business focus from ice cream to hamburgers, after his studies showed that a much larger market was waiting to be tapped. He had the name changed from Jolibe to Jolly Bee, then to the one-word name Jollibee. Next, Lumba conceptualized the Jollibee mascot, inspired by local and foreign children's books, and created the product name "Yumburger" as well as "Chickenjoy". He had the company incorporated and leased a house on Main St. in Cubao, Quezon City, as their first headquarters.
Lumba also formulated the company's long-term marketing strategy, listing a number of consumer promotions and traffic-building schemes. Tony Tan stressed that developing internal strengths was primary. The stores were re-designed, the restaurant transformed into a full self-service, fast food operation with drive thrus. Not long after, Tony Tan and Manny Lumba went on an observation tour in the United States, attended food service and equipment conventions. Tony Tan put Manny Lumba in charge of franchise development.

The company acquired 80% of Greenwich Pizza Corp. in 1994, enabling it to penetrate the pizza-pasta market. From being a 50-branch operation, Greenwich has established a strong presence in the food service industry. In early 2006, Jollibee Foods Corp. bought out the remaining shares of its partners in Greenwich Pizza Corp., equivalent to a 20% stake, for P384 million in cash.
In 2000, the company acquired Chowking, allowing Jollibee to be part of the oriental quick service restaurant market.

 In 2005, they acquired Red Ribbon Bakeshop, another popular restaurant chain in the Philippines.
In 2006, the company acquired the franchise of Délifrance. This further expanded its penetration in the food service industry, particularly in the French cafe-bakery, a growing segment of the Philippine food market. In September of 2006, the company acquired the remaining 50% stake of Delifrance Asia Ltd. in Baker Fresh Foods Phils., Inc. (BFFPI). This means BFFPI is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Jollibee and that the listed food giant has the exclusive rights to operate Delifrance outlets in the country. "The acquisition involved a restructuring of all advances by Jollibee and Delifrance Asia amounting to P130 million into equity," a public statement said. Jollibee added that the strong sales posted by Delifrance encouraged it to buy out its partner.

The corporate actions in buying out the minority shareholders in Greenwich Pizza (20%) and Delifrance (50%) were the prelude to a plan to integrate the Greenwich Pizza, Chowking, and Delifrance brands under one corporate entity. Under this plan, merging of the subsidiaries would be implemented by having Greenwich Pizza Corp. and BFFPI folded into Chowking Food Corp. The surviving entity would be renamed Fresh 'N Famous Foods, Inc. No new shares would be issued as the assets of Greenwich and BFFPI will be injected into Fresh 'N Famous as additional paid-in capital.
Along with its Philippine brands, the company also runs a Chinese fast food chain, Yonghe King, in mainland China, and a popular teahouse chain from Taiwan called Chun Shui Tang (Spring Water Hall). Chun Shui Tang teahouse opened a branch on Shanghai's Huaihai Road on June 30, 2006.
On July 25, 2007, Jollibee launched its pilot restaurant "Tio Pepe's Karinderia" in Edsa Central in Mandaluyong, to professionalize the Philippine carinderia business..

Jollibee is an American-style fast-food restaurant with Filipino-influenced dishes specializing in burgers, spaghetti, chicken and some local Filipino dishes. In the Philippines, Jollibee serves Coca-Cola products for its beverages; in overseas markets, the chain serves Pepsi products.
Currently the largest fast-food chain in the country, it also has locations in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai and Brunei. Jollibee is also the name of their mascot, a large bee in a blazer, shirt and chef's hat.
thumb|right|The Amazing Aloha, a specially-made burger.