Homegrown fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has secured a spot on TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the Most Influential Companies of 2026, earned for its aggressive global scaling that remains deeply anchored in its local heritage.
The publication lauded the multinational chain for its absolute dominance in the Philippine fast-food sector and its rapidly accelerating international footprint. According to the report, JFC currently runs over 100 outlets across North America spanning its diverse brand portfolio, with massive growth projections already underway.
TIME revealed that the company intends to launch 350 new branches across the North American continent and aggressively deploy more than 1,200 stores globally within 2026 alone.
Despite this massive outward push, Jollibee Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong emphasized that globalization will not dilute the brand’s core DNA.
“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,’” TIME noted.
Representing the Philippines in the food and drinks category, JFC shared the spotlight with other global heavyweights, including Nutella manufacturer Ferrero and booming milk tea franchise MXBC.
In an official statement responding to the accolade, Tanmantiong expressed gratitude for the recognition while underscoring the company’s long-term corporate vision.
“As we continue to grow in the Philippines and internationally, we remain focused on building strong brands,” Tanmantiong said.
The 2026 iteration of TIME’s annual list featured a diverse cohort of industry disrupters and cultural shapers, including TikTok, Telegram, Uniqlo, BYD, Netflix, Jellycat, and ClassPass. The roster also highlighted creator- and celebrity-led ventures, such as Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skin and MrBeast’s Beast Industries.
According to TIME, the final selection process evaluated businesses across 20 distinct sectors, specifically looking for enterprises capable of “telling a story compelling enough that others will follow” while actively redefining the future of their respective industries.