Time is the true test of the best matches. When it comes to pairing food and drinks, Jollibee Group's bestsellers paired with Coca-Cola beverages have delighted millions. And this does not stop as the two companies also share the same values towards sustainability and community development.

A partnership for quality and compassion

Homegrown fast-food chain, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), has joined forces with the global beverage company Coca-Cola, creating a partnership that not only delivers delectable meals, but also sharing the same high level of commitment to extend a helping hand to communities in need, while promoting sustainable practices.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group President and CEO, emphasized, "We are serious in our commitment to bring joy to the lives of the people we serve, not only through our food but also, by helping create a better world to benefit generations to come. We believe that if we are able to harness knowledge from various sectors, combine it with our own resources, we can help build better communities where people will thrive together for the long term."

JFC and Coca-Cola have had a long-standing relationship. "JFC is one of our major customers and the depth and breadth of our relationship can be attributed to our shared values in delivering quality and innovation to our consumers. We appreciate JFC's unwavering commitment to excellence and their genuine care for their consumers, employees, and communities," stated Claudia Lorenzo, President of Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific.

Empowering farmers for a sustainable future

One program that is part of the Jollibee Group's sustainability agenda is the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), where small-scale farmers are trained and then linked to large institutions to buy their produce directly thereby increasing their income and livelihood. "I am happy to say that since the program began in 2009, over nine million kilos of produce have been delivered, which is equivalent to P411-million of revenue earned by the 700 smallholder farmers participating in the Farmer's Entrepreneurship Program," shared Tanmantiong.

Joy for Tomorrow: A global sustainability agenda

The Jollibee Group has also made other strides over its 45-year history in various community projects, and is now integrating all its sustainability efforts into "Joy for Tomorrow," the company's Global Sustainability Agenda. This is a cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, toward a set of shared sustainability goals.

A world without waste

The Coca-Cola Company, meanwhile, is making progress in Southeast Asia and globally on its "World Without Waste" sustainable packaging agenda, which includes the goal of collecting and recycling the equivalent of every bottle it sells by 2030.

"We are increasing the use of recycled materials in our packaging, partnering with local organizations to improve packaging collection and waste management, and innovating new packaging designs in support of a circular economy," said Lorenzo.

Collaboration during the pandemic

The collaboration extends beyond business goals, particularly evident during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. JFC's FoodAID Program distributed over 8.1 million meals to those most affected by the pandemic, with support from Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc.

"We were proud to work with JFC during the challenging times of the pandemic, collaborating to supply beverages and food provisions to frontliners and local communities in the Philippines," Lorenzo remarked.

Celebrating 45 Years: A shared vision of growth and impact

As JFC celebrates its 45th anniversary, the partnership with Coca-Cola underlines their shared vision. Lorenzo stated, "We are proud to support JFC's growth and success in multiple countries across the globe. Looking ahead, we envision an even stronger partnership, expanding our collaboration to deliver an exciting line-up of great-tasting beverages across a range of categories while continuing to add value to all our stakeholders."

Tanmantiong highlighted the essence of the collaboration, "This is what makes this partnership work. With Coca-Cola, we find that we have shared values and principles, and we are both in pursuit of serving delicious food and drinks to everyone while at the same time going towards the same direction of making this world a little bit better and a little brighter with joy."

With shared values and a common goal, the stage is set for a new chapter, a chapter driven not only by culinary delights and refreshing sips but by a commitment to create a better world.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit their official website.