Chowking

Chowking (Chinese: 超群; pinyin: chāoqún) is a Filipino fast food restaurant chain that serves Filipino Chinese cuisine. Founded in 1985, Chowking was acquired by Jollibee Group in 2000. It is widely considered the country's most popular restaurant of Chinese-Filipino food and was once the second-largest Filipino fast food chain.^[1]

Beginnings (1985–1999)

Hailing from a Chinese-Filipino family, Robert Kuan graduated with an MBA degree in 1975. He became the CEO of Ling Nam, a Chinese restaurant in Binondo, Manila, partially owned by his family, and successfully expanded it into a small restaurant chain. Ling Nam, however, was plagued by family conflict.^[1]

Jollibee (2000–present)

Jollibee's acquisition of Chowking Food Corporation from its holding company, Antares Holdings, Inc., was completed in March 2000. Rufino L. dela Rosa, Jollibee's vice president, stated that the merger would cut down Chowking's supply, marketing and administrative expenses and maximize storage space, especially if new Chowking branches were built beside Jollibee's. Analysts predicted Jollibee, which was experiencing weak third-quarter results and stock performance, would also benefit financially.^[1]

Foreign expansion

In 1996, Chowking opened its first overseas location in San Diego, California. Both Kuan and Caktiong had unfulfilled plans in the following decade to expand to Europe and China.^[1]

Products

Chowking offers Filipino Chinese cuisine, a departure from typical fast food fare. Matejowsky notes that Chowking sells dishes which consumers cannot purchase at larger chains such as McDonald's or Jollibee. Its diverse menu includes chicken and beef dishes served with rice; Filipino dishes such as mami and "sweet-tasting" siopao; and desserts such as the Filipino halo-halo, which Matejowsky described as "one of Chowking's most popular offerings".^[1]