In 1975, Tony Tan Caktiong and his family opened a Magnolia ice cream parlor in Cubao, Quezon City. The outlet later began offering hot meals and sandwiches upon request from customers. When the food items became more popular than ice cream, the family decided to convert the ice cream parlor into a fast food restaurant, which became the first Jollibee outlet in 1978. Management consultant Manuel C. Lumba advised the family on the change in strategy. Jollibee was initially named "Jolibe", but changed its name to "Jollibee".The company that would be managing the fast food chain, Jollibee Foods Corporation, was incorporated in January 1978. By the end of that year, there were seven branches in Metro Manila. The first franchised outlet of Jollibee opened in Santa Cruz, Manila in 1979.Jollibee experienced rapid growth. It was able to withstand the entry of McDonald's in the Philippines in 1981 by focusing on the specific tastes of the Filipino market, which differed from the American fast food company. The first provincial Jollibee outlet opened in Barangay Dau of Mabalacat, Pampanga. The first Jollibee store overseas, in Taiwan, opened in 1986 but is now closed. Jollibee continued to expand and set up outlets both within the country and abroad. In 1995, Jollibee introduced the Burger Steak to its menu. In 2021 Jollibee announced that they plan to open 509 stores in the US and Canada.
