PSE-listed Jollibee Foods Corp. is trying to put the smile back on its Burger Blowout raffle after “fraudulent third parties” tampered with the contest, prompting a brief government investigation and the suspension of several draws.
The Philippines’ largest fast-food chain said irregular entries slipped into its Week 3 raffle despite existing safeguards, resulting in prize winners with names so unusual that they quickly drew attention.
Posted on Jollibee’s official Facebook page were winners listed as “Hobby Dynamics,” “Noble Beer” and “Alfreda Corkery.”
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which oversees such promotions, confirmed that Jollibee disqualified the bogus entries and secured regulatory approval to conduct a redraw.
“Fraudulent attempts were uncovered and disqualified with DTI’s approval. A redraw will be conducted ensuring fairness, transparency and legitimate winners,” the department said in an August 20 statement.
Jollibee said it acted swiftly, halting subsequent raffles, reviewing its system, and working with regulators.
“We want to assure everyone that we have fully addressed the issues raised and strictly complied with the investigation initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry,” the company said.
The Week 3 redraw will now be held together with raffles for Weeks 4 to 6 and a special bonus draw to give customers additional chances to win. DTI said it would continue monitoring to ensure “fairness and transparency in all promotional undertakings.”
While the glitch caused plenty of buzz, regulators were quick to point out that such hiccups could happen even to the most seasoned brands.
A DTI official told reporters that promotions sometimes encounter flaws but stressed that both the agency and Jollibee “always want what’s best for the consumer.”
Jollibee, with its red-and-yellow bee mascot and Filipino-style fast food, has long been more than just a restaurant chain — it’s part of the country’s cultural fabric. From fried chicken and burgers to sweet-style spaghetti, its menu is a fixture at family tables and celebrations.
Founded in the 1970s as a small ice cream parlor, Jollibee now operates more than 1,600 stores in 17 countries and has expanded abroad through acquisitions including The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan.
At home, the Burger Blowout misstep is less of a crisis than a reminder: even the country’s most beloved bee sometimes needs to swat away the occasional fly.
Jollibee founder and chairman Tony Tan Caktiong and his family started a business selling ice cream in Manila in 1975. They later expanded their menu to include hot meals and sandwiches, which eventually led to the establishment of the Jollibee fast-food chain.
