CEBU CITY— The Jollibee Food Group (JFG) is exploring a potential partnership to source rice directly from Filipino farmers for its stores.
The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) said the fast-food giant is in the initial stages of discussions with farmer cooperatives. “We’re considering this with Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a long-standing partner,” said JGF senior manager Ma. Laize Ar Cruzat. “We’re confident in their ability to supply quality rice.”
More than 100 JFC stores in Cebu require thousands of kilograms of rice annually. Supplying the group’s Jollibee and Chowking stores alone could reach tens of millions of kilograms.
JGF program director Jan Paolo Vicente said JFG stores currently source rice from local millers. He said that JFG and JGF are evaluating several factors before directly sourcing from small-holder farmers, including quality, adherence to good farming practices and pesticide residue analysis (PRA).
JFG and JGF prefer to sign rice supply agreements with cooperatives and non-government organizations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or accredited by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Lamac Cooperative plans to supply at least 20 percent of JFG’s rice requirement starting 2025. The cooperative formed a farming cluster in Bohol and expects to import rice from there.
The cooperative received a P11-million grant from the national government for a rice warehouse, rice mill and hauling trucks.
As one of the oldest and largest farm groups, Lamac teamed up with JFG to deliver fresh produce to Jollibee and Chowking stores under the foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP).
