Galit, Mary Rose Q.

BSA2-A

BIOGRAPHY OF TONY TAN CAKTIONG

Tony Tan Caktiong is the founder and current Chairman and CEO of
Philippine fast food chain Jollibee. He graduated from the University of
Santo Tomas with a degree in chemical engineering. Caktiong had initially
planned an ice cream parlor when he founded Jollibee, then subsequently
added additional dishes such as hamburgers, french fries, and fried
chicken.
Food and family are two essential elements behind the success of both
Tony Tan Caktiong and his company, Jollibee Foods Inc.

While growing up in Davao (Southern Mindanao), he and his brothers worked in their family
restaurant where their father was also the chef. From his parents, they learned two basic ingredients
that led to the Jollibee phenomenon — good food and humility.
After high school, Mr. Tan Caktiong moved back to Manila to pursue an engineering course at the
University of Santo Tomas. Upon graduating from the university, he and his brothers applied for a
franchise of Magnolia Ice Cream House.
The business was already doing well but they noticed that the customers were looking for something
besides ice cream. This gave them the idea to serve sandwiches and spaghetti. Pretty soon, the hot
meals were outselling the frozen delights. Mr. Tan Caktiong decided to convert their two ice cream
parlors into dine-in fast-food restaurants called “Jollibee.”
The story behind the name is as interesting as the company’s. When Mr. Tan Caktiong and his
family were brainstorming on a symbol for their business, they thought of a bee because it is known
for its hard work.
Bees also produce honey that represents the sweet things in life. In addition, they also wanted the
name to connote happiness and prefixed “jolly” because people should be happy with their work to
enjoy it. .
With Jollibee, the Tan Caktiong team decided to focus on the Filipino taste. They made sure — as
their father had taught them — that all the food that Jollibee serves must taste good.
And when they learned that the Number One fast-food chain in the world was making an entry in the
Philippines, Mr. Tan Caktiong knew that they had only two choices: to be a franchise of the global
brand or to stand on its own.
Today, it is a known fact that Jollibee is the undisputed leader in the local fast-food industry. Jollibee
commands 65% of the market, leading in three major segments — Jollibee in chicken and burgers;
Chowking in oriental fast food; and Greenwich in pizza and pasta.
Moreover, Jollibee is one of the largest franchising networks in the Philippines. From two stores in
1975, Jollibee can be found in around 900 locations in the country and 29 overseas. This
phenomenon is due mainly to Mr. Tan Caktiong’s persistent drive to innovate, to look ahead, and to
learn from other companies’ successes and mistakes. He is the toughest quality controller of
Jollibee’s products and services.
At the moment, Mr. Tan Caktiong is upbeat about doing business in China and Indonesia. Jollibee
will explore opportunities in the Japanese dining segment through the US California-based Tomi’s
Teriyaki Japanese Restaurant.
He is not afraid to fail despite an unsuccessful venture in the Middle East. From a business
standpoint, he considers the episode successful because of the valuable lessons he learned form it.
Galit, Mary Rose Q. BSA2-A

For his tremendous success, Mr. Tan Caktiong was recognized Management Man of the Year in
2002. He has also been presented an Agora Award for Outstanding Marketing Achievement, a Triple
A Alumni Award from the Asian Institute of Management, a Golden Scroll Award, a Ten Outstanding
Young Men (TOYM) Award for Entrepreneurship, a Star of Asia Award from BusinessWeek, and a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian Chain Restaurant Operators and Suppliers Series.
Mr. Tan Caktiong credits his parents for cultivating his entrepreneurial spirit and instilling in him the
values of respect and humility, which are now ingrained in the corporate culture of Jollibee.
Everyone in Jollibee — from the CEO to a store’s kitchen crew — respectfully addresses each other
as “Sir” or “Ma’am.”
“If you take care of your people, they will take care of you,” Mr. Tan Caktiong puts simply.
By people, he refers not only to employees but also to Jollibee’s numerous suppliers, franchisees,
shareholders and the public at large.
After all that has been said and done in the last 25 years since Jollibee metamorphosed from an ice
cream parlor, Mr. Tan Caktiong returns again and again to the one basic question his parents would
ask often of him: Have you made people happy?

Other Information

 Name: Tony Tan Caktiong

 Birthday: January 5, 1953, Davao del Sur, Philippines
 Occupation: Businessman
 School Attended:
 College: University of Santo Tomas with a degree in chemical engineering
 High School: Chiang Kai Shek College
 Wife: Grace Tan Caktiong
 Parents:
 Chan Hui Em
 Tan Eng Lan
 Siblings:
 William Tan Untiong
 Virgie Tan Chua
 Ernesto Tan Mantiong
 Joseph Tanbuntiong
 Children : 3
 Carl Tancaktiong

Business Interest

 Jollibee Foods Inc., Founder, Chaiman, CEO

 Tomi’s Teriyaki Japanese Restaurant
 Chowking
 Greenwich
 Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Inc.
 Delifrance Philippines
 Manong Pepe’s
 Yonghe King
 CST
 Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd.
Galit, Mary Rose Q. BSA2-A

 Belmont Enterprises Ventures Ltd.

 Honeysea Corporation
 Hyper Dynamic Corporation
 Mainspring Resources Corporation
 Mary’s Foods Corporation
 Queenbee Resources Corporation
 Honeybee Foods Corporation
 Fresh N’ Famous Foods Inc
 RRB Holdings, Inc.
 Red Ribbon Bakeshop (USA)
 First Gen Corporation
 DoubleDragon Properties

Awards

 Management Man of the Year in 2002

 Agora Award for Outstanding Marketing Achievement
 Triple A Alumni Award from the Asian Institute of Management
 Golden Scroll Award
 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Entrepreneurship
 Star of Asia Award from BusinessWeek
 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian Chain Restaurant Operators and Suppliers
Series

Reference: https://www.sinosila.com/tony-tan-caktiong/