Filipinos brave sub-zero temp for opening of Jollibee Winnipeg

CBC SCREENGRAB

SAN FRANCISCO – Filipino Canadians braved sub-zero temperatures to mob the grand opening of the Jollibee’s first Canadian location in Winnipeg, Manitoba Dec. 15.

The local Filipino expatriate community of around 60,000 was drawn by the signature fried chicken or sweet-style spaghetti mixed with ham, ground meat and hot dog of the fast-food chain. Nostalgia was the main course, according CBC News.

With temperatures hovering around -25C (-13F), Jollibee set up heated trailers outside of the restaurant so that hungry patrons wouldn’t freeze.

Founded in 1975 as a burger shack and ice cream parlor in downtown Manila, Jollibee grew from one store to the ninth-biggest fast-food chain in the world.

Jollibee has further North American expansion plans between now and the end of 2018, including another Winnipeg location, two in the Toronto area, and in Edmonton. Two new US locations are planned–in Jacksonville, Florida and Manhattan.