Giving my new friend a lift home! Great news that @Jollibee is coming to the #UK! pic.twitter.com/tiFa2Lkqnx

— Daniel Pruce 🇬🇧 (@DanielPruce) September 25, 2017

MANILA - Filipino fast food giant Jollibee will open its first store in the United Kingdom this year, and its signature fried chicken is poised to be a hit, according to Britain's envoy to the Philippines.

Ambassador Daniel Pruce said the "iconic" Chickenjoy was one of his first meals in the Philippines after he assumed his post in August last year.

"I had the works, the Chickenjoy, the spaghetti the burgers the (peach) mango pie and I think it's all fantastic," Pruce said in an exclusive interview with Cathy Yang for ANC's The Boss.

Asked if the British will love Chickenjoy, Pruce said, "I can see no reason why they wouldn't."

Chickenjoy, the top-selling item on Jollibee's menu, has many international fans, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the 2017 Miss Universe candidates.

• Canada's Justin Trudeau visits Jollibee in Manila
• LOOK: Miss Universe 2017 beauties visit Jollibee

Pruce, who was a special guest of the opening of Jollibee's 1,000th store in Taguig last year, said that the Filipino chain would likely open an outlet in Britain "sometime over the summer."

• LOOK: Pia Wurtzbach opens Jollibee's 1,000th branch
• READ: Jollibee's UK expansion hopes gets boost from envoy

Jollibee's UK foray shows that business ties between the Philippines and the UK are healthy, Pruce said.

The Filipino fast food company is preparing a bid for British updscale sandwich chain Pret A Manger, in a deal that could be worth $1 billion, Reuters reported, citing sources.

Over 200 British brands are in the Philippines, mostly in retail, Pruce said.

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