Jollibee, Asia’s largest fast food restaurant operator, is planning to enter seven new markets over the next two years.

According to a report in The Standard, Dennis Flores, VP for international operations of Jollibee, has revealed the company plans to take its mainstay Jollibee burger restaurant brand Jollibee into the UK, Italy, Canada, Malaysia and Oman in 2016. Forays into Australia and Japan will follow in 2017.

The news follows last month’s investment of US$100 million for a 40 per cent stake in a fast-rising American burger chain, Smashburger.

Jollibee, publicly listed in the Philippines, had been actively seeking an investment in a leading US growth brand to gain a foothold in the US, as p[art of its broader plan to become an international restaurant operator. It currently operates and franchises a network of more than 3000 restaurants worldwide under the trade names Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Mang Inasal, Burger King Philippines, San Pin Wang, and Jinja Bar. Jollibee also has a 50 per cent interest in the Super Foods Group, which operates and franchises restaurants under the Pho 24 and Highlands Coffee brands throughout Vietnam.

According to Flores, Jollibee’s first two stores in Europe will be located in London and Milan and its first Canadian store will open in Toronto.

Jollibee’s network outlets have reached 3,023 worldwide, with 2,393 of them in the Philippines, and 630 outlets abroad.

As well as expanding into new markets, Jollibee plans to open 20 additional outlets in Vietnam, and another 12 in Brunei in coming months.