Philippines. Photo shows (from left to right): Jollibee Group’s AVP and Head of Business Development
for Foreign Franchised Brands, Ned Bandojo; Jollibee Group’s President and Group Head for Greenwich,
Red Ribbon, & Foreign Franchised Brands, JJ Alano; Spa Esprit Group’s General Manager for Food
Division, Michael Bovell; Jollibee Group’s Chief Business Officer, Joseph Tanbuntiong; Spa Esprit
Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Common Man Coffee Roasters, Koon Beng “KB”
Chua; Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, Her Excellency Constance See; Vice Mayor of the
City Government of Makati, Honorable Monique Lagdameo; Jollibee Group’s President and Chief
Executive Officer, Ernesto Tanmantiong; Ayala Malls’ President, Mariana Zobel de Ayala; Jollibee
Group’s Chief of Real Estate and Design Officer & Chief Business Support Officer, William Tan Untiong;
Ayala Land Estates Inc.’s Group Deputy Head, Chris Maglanoc; and Common Man Coffee Roasters’
Operations Head, Chynna Ramos.
The Jollibee Group is off to a great start this 2024 with the opening of the first Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) cafe in the Philippines at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City last January 11, 2024. This milestone opening is part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive growth plans this year, consistent with its vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world.
“We’re excited to bring the Common Man Coffee Roasters in the country and give the community an elevated café experience,” said Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group’s President and CEO.
“Common Man’s consciously sourced coffee and numerous deliciously healthy brunch options contribute to this experience and help fulfill our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone. We invite everyone to come visit our first ever Common Man Coffee Roasters café,” he added.
Championing specialty coffee & brunch
Established in 2013, Common Man Coffee Roasters aims to champion specialty coffee and the best all-day brunch and has expanded from Singapore to Malaysia, and now the Philippines. It also roasts and sells coffee beans and operates the Coffee Barista Academy in Singapore and Malaysia, which provides coffee training to baristas and coffee enthusiasts.
In the Philippines, the breadth of the café’s menu includes different types of specialty coffee, bannered by the Nitro Honey Oat Latte and Filter Brew. Its brunch is thoughtfully crafted, headlined by the Common Man Full Breakfast that has generous servings of sausage, bacon, portobello mushroom, hash browns, house-made baked chorizo beans, and greens along with artisanal sourdough. The crowd favorite Common Man Beef Brisket Benedict packs an indulging punch of savory in its tender braised beef topped by poached eggs and creamy hollandaise.
The first location in the country, which has a modern, casual, “come as you are” ambiance, also features its own roastery.
“Having a roastery on site for us to showcase the roasting method will not only help the customers understand the coffee process better, but it will also offer a unique dining and sensory experience for them,” said Koon Beng Chua, CEO of the Spa Esprit Group, which operates Common Man Coffee Roasters in Singapore.
Celebrating partnerships
The Jollibee Group announced its joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) through FCJB Foods Inc. to own and operate Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines in August 2023. The Jollibee Group owns 60 percent in FCJB Foods Inc.
“This is the first café from our partnership with the Spa Esprit Group and we’re looking forward to expanding the Common Man Coffee Roasters experience to more people. The strong collaboration between the two partners is very evident and is greatly rewarded by the enjoyment we see from people upon entering the café and upon tasting our menu selections. We recognize the increasingly discerning palate of Filipinos and we’re here to delight them,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer, during the store’s inauguration and opening.
The inauguration rites were attended by Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Spa Esprit Group CEO and Common Man Coffee Roasters’ co-founder Koon Beng Chua, Spa Esprit Food Group’s General Manager Michael Bovell, Ayala Malls President Mariana Zobel de Ayala, and Ayala Land Estates Group Deputy Head Chris Maglanoc. The Jollibee Group was represented by its President and CEO, Ernesto Tanmantiong, its Chief Business Support Officer and Chief Real Estate & Design Officer, William Tan Untiong, and its Chief Business Officer, Joseph Tanbuntiong, along with the President and Group Head for Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and Foreign Franchised Brands, JJ Alano, and AVP and Head of Business Development for Foreign Franchised Brands, Ned Bandojo.
The Common Man Coffee Roasters at Ayala Triangle is open every Monday to Sunday from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.