Chowking
 | |
| Product type | Filipino Chinese fast food chain |
|---|---|
| Owner | Fresh N Famous Foods |
| Country | Philippines |
| Introduced | 1985 |
| Related brands | |
| Previous owners | Chowking Food Corporation |
| Website |
www www |
Chowking (Chinese: 超群; pinyin: chāoqún; lit. 'preeminent') is a Filipino chain of fast food restaurants that specializes in Filipino Chinese cuisine.
History
Chowking was established in 1985 by Robert Kuan after working several years managing his family's Ling Nam Wanton Parlor, a Chinese noodle shop based in Santa Cruz, Manila specializing in noodles, congee, siopao, siomai and other dim sum offerings. Kuan conceptualized Chowking as a fast food restaurant with similar offerings as Ling Nam and opened the first Chowking store on March 18, 1985 in the Rotary Foundation Building (now demolished and part of SM Makati), Makati Commercial Center, Makati.
In 1989, Chowking started expanding its market share amid the volatility of the domestic market. It opened its franchising operations and made its entry into the provincial markets; that same year, Chowking's annual income reached 1 million pesos.
On January 1, 2000, Chowking became a wholly owned subsidiary of Jollibee Foods Corporation. Store renovations were commenced to create a new corporate look for Chowking that would result in a comprehensive change for each store.
In 2008, Chowking announced the completion of a ₱270-million (US$5.65-million) modernization program, in an attempt to set the stage for future growth. Called “Project DMSSM” (pronounced “dimsum”) for “Designed, Modernized and Streamlined Supply Chain and Manufacturing,” the two-year modernization program that started in 2006 involved the expansion and renovation of Chowking's Noodle Building, increased automation and the improved integration of food manufacturing processes in its two commissaries in Muntinlupa.
Foreign expansion
Chowking Food Corporation opened its first US store in 1995; three years later, it entered the Indonesian market, opening two stores in the capital city of Jakarta.
In 2004, Chowking opened its first two stores in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. By 2008, Chowking had over 400 stores within the Philippines, Indonesia, United States and the Middle East. In Dubai, Chowking's commissary supplied ten stores.
In 2011, Jollibee acquired control over the franchised operations of Chowking USA, later on giving the full ownership to JFC. They also gave 25% ownership to JFC Ayco Inc.
As of April 2011, Chowking operates in key international cities in the US, Indonesia (2), United Arab Emirates (17), Qatar (2) and Oman (1).