Jollibee considering China entry within five years

The company currently operates a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise in the country.

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) may expand its namesake fast food chain brand in China within the next 5 years, according to its CEO.

"In China, hopefully in the near future we will be able to enter the market," JFC president and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong told CNBC's Managing Asia. "We're looking at within 5 years, where we should be able to do that."

JFC, which operates a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in China, has eight stores in Hong Kong where 40 to 50% of customers are "local Chinese."

The brand's expansion strategy has typically focussed on areas with Filipino communities, but has since gained appeal from non-native patrons.

"We build the base and slowly cross over to the mainstream market, which is the local market. We have done that successfully in Hong Kong and in Singapore," he said.

Jollibee is also planning to open its first store in Rome and in Spain and is also exploring other markets including Australia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, Tanmantiong added.