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Tag: Fastfood

  • Jollibee Sets Up Shop in Manhattan, NY

    Jollibee Sets Up Shop in Manhattan, NY

    Fried chicken fans in New York City will have another option to crow about, as Philippines-based restaurant chain Jollibee will open its first location in Manhattan later this month. Of course, the menu at Jollibee doesn’t stop at its Chickenjoy, as it encompasses an eclectic range of dishes from Jolly Spaghetti topped with a sweet sauce along with pieces of ham and hot dog, to burgers, Spam sandwiches, and desserts like halo halo and Peach Mango Pie.

    For the unfamiliar, Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Phillipines, with more than 1,000 stores, and another 200 locations worldwide. Jollibee’s U.S. operation spans ten states and 36 locations, with the Manhattan outpost bringing that total to 37. Additionally, the chain recently cut the ribbon on two new storefronts in the Toronto area, which both saw lines around the block for their grand openings. Jollibee was even featured on Parts Unknown when Anthony Bourdain visited in Los Angeles with Roy Choi and later on his own in Manila when he referred to it as “the wackiest, jolliest place on earth.”

    “We are excited to finally open our doors in the heart of bustling Manhattan, which is not just a center of business and finance, but a major cultural and entertainment hub that receives millions of visitors from around the world each year,” Jose Miñana, Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Group President for North America, said in a statement. “The diversity of the food culture and the fast pace of living here make it perfect for our new Jollibee store location.”

    Jollibee also happens to be celebrating its 40th anniversary, which means there’s an added bonus for some lucky New Yorkers: The first 40 people in line at the opening will get free Chickenjoy for a year. Additionally, a Jollibee Funko Pop! figure and other collectibles will be available.

    New York City already has a Jollibee located in Woodside, Queens, but as most of the thinking goes in New York, you haven’t made it until you’ve made it in Manhattan.

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  • Burger King eyes expansion in Africa

    Burger King eyes expansion in Africa

    Burger King, the world’s second-biggest burger chain, is set to launch a string of restaurants in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, according to a senior executive.

    Daniel Schwartz, chief executive of Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, told that the region was seen as a “huge opportunity”.

    Africa has mouth-watering demographics for any fast-food chain, with the United Nations forecasting that it will have ten of the world’s fastest-growing cities between now and 2035.

    And the continent’s population is young, with a median age of just 19. The population is expected to top two billion by 2050, doubling again by the end of the century.

    Burger King is currently undergoing rapid expansion internationally, adding two or three restaurants each day to its global network. But with 17,000 outlets worldwide, it remains far behind rival McDonald’s which claims more than 37,000.

    Asia and Europe are the main focus for Burger King, but, said Schwartz, the brand is “significantly under-penetrated” in Africa.

    “We are so under-penetrated around the world relative to our peers – and ourselves in the US,” he added. “We’re just scratching the surface.”

    José Cil, president of Burger King, told the FT that fast-food restaurants “aren’t really well penetrated yet” in sub-Saharan Africa. “We think Nigeria is an amazing opportunity, we think East Africa as well.”

    Besides Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, Burger King is reported to be eyeing Kenya and Ivory Coast among other countries in the region.

    But, said Cil, Burger King had “a lot of work to do” in Nigeria “in terms of infrastructure and supply chain”.

    “We want to do it right — and we want to do it in a big way,” he said. “We want to scale quickly. So, we’re excited about the potential.”

    News of Burger King’s latest expansion comes as Nigeria inches its way out of a recession caused by the dramatic fall in oil prices. With a population of 194 million, the country is the continent’s most populous.

  • Jollibee expanding in Hong Kong

    Jollibee expanding in Hong Kong

    “It feels like you’re back home,” said Filipino Joanna Galabay, a long-time foreign domestic worker in Hong Kong, as she munched on a drumstick at a Jollibee’s branch on Connaught Road.

    Singaporean bags-and-shoes chain Charles & Keith opened its first branch in the upscale New Town Plaza in Sha Tin last month, and will open its second outlet – at Parker House in Central – in November. It has committed to opening another store in the city, and told it plans to “expand cautiously to 10 locations in the next five years.” It has branches in the Philippines and Indonesia so is well known to the city’s domestic helpers

    Potato Corner, which now has four outlets in Hong Kong, said a branch in Central is in the pipeline. The restaurant chain started in the Philippines but, as part of its international expansion, took off as well in Indonesia.

    “For Southeast Asian brands in particular, Hong Kong has a unique advantage for having a long-established Southeast Asian population,” said retail analyst Lawrence Wan of CBRE Hong Kong. “ … You can see their restaurants opening in prime areas. The lifestyle and trendy fast fashion brands from Southeast Asia are also gaining steam.”

    The number of Southeast Asian companies in Hong Kong rose 17 per cent between 2013 and 2017, with the city now having 586 such businesses, according to the government’s Census & Statistics Department. In addition to players like J. CO Donuts & Coffee of Indonesia, and Bread Talk and Irvins Salted Egg, both from Singapore, they include big multinationals, such as the Development Bank of Singapore and the United Overseas Bank, also from the Southeast Asian city state.

    Hundreds of thousands of maids fan out on their Sunday day off in this city of 7.4 million people. Filipino maids often meet their friends at Jollibee, for example, chatting, eating, snapping selfies and calling family back home. In April, visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte created quite a stir when he sat down at the Hung Hom outlet of Jollibee and chatted with a Filipino maid. Indonesian helpers are also fans of Jollibee.

    The women have expanded the customer base of the brands by bringing home drumsticks, doughnuts and other treats with them when they return to their employers’ homes on Sunday nights. The Southeast Asian businesses have also simply grown by word of mouth.

    “We initially entered Hong Kong because of the large Filipino population in the market,” Jollibee’s media office said. “However, we are now seeing that our new stores have majority local customers, with more Hong Kong locals loving our Chickenjoy [chicken meals].”

    Potato Corner, which markets itself as the maker of the “world’s best flavoured fries”, said its Hong Kong stores achieved the “all-time record for highest single day sales” in the brand’s 25 years of operation. It didn’t give specifics.

    “Potato Corner is popular among Filipinos, and some of our most loyal regulars are Filipinos. Indonesians [are our loyal customers], too, as Potato Corner has a strong presence in Indonesia,” said Ryan Asis Maniago, managing director of UpFive Corporation Ltd., the master franchisee in Hong Kong.

    As Hong Kong’s population ages, its need for foreign domestic helpers will grow, with the number of helpers expected to jump to 600,000 over the next three decades, the government says. While their wages are modest – HK$4,520 (US$577) a month, plus living space in their employer’s home and food – their sheer number makes them a serious consumer base. They spend about a quarter of their wages in Hong Kong, according to a study by NGO Mission for Migrant Workers released in August. That would mean they are dropping about HK$5 billion (US$640 million) a year in the city.

    The number of Southeast Asian businesses is expected to grow under two free trade agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which represents the 10 countries of the region: Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar (also known as Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. The agreements go into effect next year.

    Consulate officials from the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand also noted that Hong Kong serves as a strategic gateway to China’s huge number of consumers, elevating its importance to businesses of the Asean member countries.

    However, businesses said in interviews that expansion is hampered by the city’s high rents. Also, some complained that it is difficult for them to set up bank accounts for their operations.

    “The cost of doing business in Hong Kong is more expensive compared with other countries, especially in rent,” Irvins Salted Egg said.

    The snack company said it is negotiating with a few landlords for some prime retail spaces in popular shopping malls.

    In 2017, Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay, home to one of Potato Corner’s branches, had the most expensive retail space in Asia, and second in the world behind New York.

    Property consultant Cushman & Wakefield said annual retail rentals in the trendy and popular shopping district on Hong Kong Island reached HK$21,255 (US$2,712) per square foot, just behind Upper 5th Avenue’s HK$23,400 (US$2,986) per square foot.

    While rents are high, the Thai Consulate applauded the city’s business-friendly tax system.

    “The simple tax system with no VAT and importing tax is also a selling point to Thai exporters,” the Thai Consulate-General said.

    There were 154 existing trademark registrations from Thailand in Hong Kong as of last year, a 77-per cent increase compared to 2016. Leading Thai brands in Hong Kong include Bangkok Bank, spa and spa products retailer Thann, and restaurant Blue Elephant.

    Thais have opened many small business in the city, including massage parlours and beauty and nail salons.

    The city’s attractiveness has grown to Southeast Asian businesses, some of which were quick to thank Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers for getting them off to a solid start.

    Noemi Morgado, a Filipino maid working in Pok Fu Lam, is one such helpful ambassador. “Ever since I brought my employer’s family a bucket of Jollibee fried chicken on New Year’s, they have regularly asked me to bring some home after my day off,” said Morgado, holding three buckets of the chain’s fried chicken.

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  • Jollibee to bring Panda Express to the Philippines

    Jollibee to bring Panda Express to the Philippines

    Jollibee Food Corp on Thursday said it would bring Panda Express to the Philippines, the popular “Chinese kitchen” in the US.

    The initial phase of the 50/50 joint venture between JFC and Panda Restaurant Group Inc intends to develop 5 Panda Express outlets in Metro Manila, JFC told the stock exchange.

    “With proven track records in providing great tasting food at a great value, JFC and Panda join hands to introduce American Chinese food, a globally-influenced cuisine inspired by authentic Chinese culinary principles, to the Philippines,” JFC said in a statement.

    JFC chairman Tony Tan Caktiong said Panda Express is “very much in line with JFC brand portfolio.”

    “We look forward to tapping into JFC’s market expertise to grow the Panda Express brand into a household name in the Philippines and, more importantly, actioning our shared value of inspiring people to better their lives,” Andrew Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda.

    Jollibee Group’s worldwide store network reached 4,324 as of Aug. 31, 2018.

    JFC said Panda Express has operations in the US, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan and Russia, among others.

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  • Jollibee goes to London

    Jollibee goes to London

    Brits are about to have a taste of “bida ang saya” (joyful experience) as Jollibee Foods has started its expansion in the United Kingdom with a ceremonial launch of its first store on Sept. 25.

    Cabinet secretaries visited the store on the sidelines of an investors’ roadshow in the UK, a month before its grand opening next month.

    JFC officials, led by chief executive officer (CEO) Ernesto Tanmantiong and JFC president and head of Jollibee International Business for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia Dennis Flores, welcomed the government officials.

    “We are truly delighted and excited to be opening and introducing Jollibee to this part of the world. I, together with our Jollibee International and store teams, sincerely appreciate your presence here. We are sincerely humbled by your visit as we partner for economic progress and help contribute to bringing honor to our country,” said Tanmantiong.

    Tanmantiong noted that as JFC has done in Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore and Hong Kong, it also envisions to successfully serve the Filipino community as well as the British in the UK.

    The Cabinet officials’ visit coincided with the Philippine Economic Briefing in the UK, where they presented before the UK-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business Council the latest updates on various government programs.

    The officials present were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO Vivencio Dizon.

    Lawmaker Pia Cayetano and Philippine Ambassador to the UK Antonio Manuel Lagdameo joined the Cabinet officials.

    “From our family, to our people, to those who invested in us, to our suppliers and to our customers, the journey has become not just our own, but a journey of the Filipino people. We look forward to traveling to the next destinations together,” Tanmantiong said.

    The UK store, which is opening on Oct. 20, is among the latest branches JFC is opening abroad.

    JFC will also open stores in Macau and New York this year.

    “(JFC’s) success is becoming the success of the Philippines as they represent, in a way, the dynamism and world class, hardworking and happy character of Filipinos,” Lopez told.

    Lopez said the economic team is pleased to be part of the JFC milestone in the UK.

    JFC is the parent company of Jollibee and has 12 brands with over 4,000 stores across 20 countries.

    In 2013, JFC became the number one restaurant company in Asia in terms of market capitalization and is now the world’s largest Asian restaurant company.

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  • Ogilvy picks up creative work for Pizza Hut Hong Kong as brand targets millennials

    Ogilvy picks up creative work for Pizza Hut Hong Kong as brand targets millennials

    Ogilvy will be tasked with raising the profile of Pizza Hut among millennials after being appointed creative agency of record for the brand in Hong Kong.

    The agency was selected following a competitive pitch. Havas was the incumbent.

    Ogilvy & Mather also won the creative work for Pizza Hut in Singapore at the start of the year, releasing its first work in May. The agency also works with Pizza Hut parent Yum! across several markets in Asia.

    Ogilvy will deliver Pizza Hut’s integrated marketing strategy including creative, brand building and campaign execution with the agency tasked with raising the profile of the brand among millennials while “maintaining its strong heritage in the family segment”.

    In a statement, Pizza Hut Hong Kong marketing director Wendy Leung said: “Our decision to partner with Ogilvy was based on their proven track record of delivering innovative work that resonates with the local market.

    “As we look to elevate the Pizza Hut brand amongst millennials in Hong Kong, it was critical that we chose an agency whose work is grounded in strong, local consumer insights”.

    Ogilvy Hong Kong executive creative John Koay added: “Everyone in Hong Kong grew up with Pizza Hut. We are thrilled Ogilvy can partner with this iconic brand to create effective and famous work that will drive their business forward and connect with Hong Kong people”.

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  • Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express expanding Restaurants in Indonesia

    Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express expanding Restaurants in Indonesia

    Fat Brands will open five more outlets of co-branded restaurant chain Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express in Indonesia.

    Set to open in Bali and Jakarta, the co-branded chain will be operated by Fat Brands’ local partner Global Food Indonesia.

    “We’ve loved every aspect of growing in the Indonesia marketplace. Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express are thriving members of their respective communities, and we can only continue to grow on this strong foundation,” said Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of Fat Brands.

    The Hollywood burger chain and sister wing brand are best known for their juicy, made-to-order burgers and wings.

    The brands have more than 200 locations in 32 different countries with recent openings in Southern California, Canada, and Japan.

    More restaurants will open in the near future.

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  • KFC Singapore finally Drops Plastic Straws in Restaurants

    KFC Singapore finally Drops Plastic Straws in Restaurants

    KFC Singapore is jettisoning plastic straws and drink-cup lids in its restaurants in a sustainability initiative it says will cut 17.9 tonnes of single-use plastic waste in a year.

    Dine-in guests of its 84 restaurants in Singapore will not be served lids and straws from June 20, but they will be supplied with takeaway orders.

    “We acknowledge the strain that single-use plastics put on our environment and are taking steps to do our part in endeavouring a change,” said KFC Singapore GM Lynette Lee in a statement.

    “We recognise that every little bit counts and are proud to be the first fast-food restaurant in Singapore to champion this movement, one straw at a time.”

    Lee says the company will also investigate more biodegradable packaging for its products.

    KFC Singapore’s move comes at the same time as Starbucks in Hong Kong starts to phase out disposable plastic items, although the items will be available on request.

    And McDonald’s has confirmed it is looking at more environmentally friendly disposable items in its stores.

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  • Domino’s long time CIO left the Company

    Domino’s long time CIO left the Company

    Domino’s Pizza’s CIO Wayne McMahon has left the business after more than seven years, moving on to become chief digital and technology officer at Hungry Jacks owner Competitive Foods Australia.

    Don Meij, Domino’s CEO, said McMahon had been instrumental in laying the foundations for some of the company’s biggest platforms.

    “Under Wayne’s leadership, Domino’s has grown from strength to strength delivering some of the world’s best information technology solutions,” said Meij.

    “We have been a true disruptor in this space and the focus on technology over the past seven years, under Wayne’s leadership, has been critical in achieving this.”

    McMahon will be replaced by Terry Powell, who previously led the technology division for Suncorp’s insurance business.

    “In the role of Domino’s Group CIO, [Powell] will work with the Company’s Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Michael Gillespie as well as the the global teams to ensure appropriate technologies are employed across the Company’s global network to bring efficiencies and new ways to engage the company’s customers,” reads a statement by Dominos.

    In this role at Suncorp, Powell had a strong track record of delivering complex IT programs including simplifying core systems and insurance applications, successful transition to cloud computing, significantly reducing critical incidents, and as Executive General Manager Security improving the company’s security resilience.

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  • Pizza Hut Exmployee fined for exploiting driver

    Pizza Hut Exmployee fined for exploiting driver

    A Gold Coast Pizza Hut operator has been hit with a $216,000 fine for exploiting an Indian delivery driver and trying to cover it up.

    The Fair Work Ombudsman took action against against Dong Zhao after one of his drivers complained he’d suffered anxiety and anguish from being underpaid, and had to borrow money from his family to support his student wife.

    Zhao, who operates an Upper Coomera Pizza Hut franchise, was fined $36,700 and his company $180,000 after admitting breaking sham contracting laws, designed to stop employers from misrepresenting workers as independent contractors.

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  • Jollibee re-enters Guam with new Restaurants

    Jollibee re-enters Guam with new Restaurants

    Jollibee, the largest and most popular fast food chain in the Philippines, is re-entering the Guam market with the ongoing $2 million construction of a restaurant within the Micronesia Mall compound in Dededo. The restaurant is expected to open by early 2019.

    The restaurant is being built within the parking area of Micronesia Mall, by the corner of Marine Corps Drive and Army Corps Drive. Construction began in March.

    Construction cost is $2 million and the permit fee is $12,820, based on copies of the Department of Public Works building permit posted on a barrier wall at the construction site.

    Construction of a Guam branch of Jollibee, the most popular fast food chain in the Philippines, is ongoing within the vicinity of Micronesia Mall in Dededo.
    Haidee Eugenio/PDN

    Isagani Baluyut, owner of Isagani Baluyut Construction, on Monday said his company has a one-year contract to build the Jollibee restaurant. Baluyut said he is not privy to the restaurant’s actual opening date but his company’s construction contract ends in April 2019.

    Jollibee started as an ice cream parlor

    Jollibee, known for its Chickenjoy, hamburgers and sweet-tasting spaghetti and its iconic red bumble bee mascot, used to have restaurants on Guam and Saipan but declining sales forced the branches to close.

    An international Jollibee franchise applicant is required to have a minimum net worth of $5 million, according to Jollibee’s corporate website.

    Jollibee started in 1975 as an ice cream parlor that evolved into a burger chain, and has become the largest fast food chain in the Philippines. It has also embarked on an aggressive international expansion plan in the United States, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei.

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  • McDonald’s Malaysia denies any connection to Israel

    McDonald’s Malaysia denies any connection to Israel

    The Malaysian franchise of McDonald’s Corp said it was “disappointed” with calls on social media to boycott the fast-food restaurant chain in apparent retaliation against the US’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

    Social media users in the Muslim-majority country have called on people to boycott various American companies following United States President Donald Trump’s decision to relocate the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

    One Twitter user, who goes by the name, TheUsopIbrahim, stated without citing sources that US-headquartered McDonald’s “channelled funds to Israel”.

    McDonald’s Malaysia said in a statement on Facebook on Saturday that the chain does not support or engage in any political or religious conflicts.

    Mr Azmir Jaafar, managing director and operating partner of franchisee Gerbang Alaf Restaurants, said: “The claim that McDonald’s channels funds to Israel is a false accusation, a lie, fake and slanderous.”

    He added that Gerbang’s largest shareholder is Muslim.

    The Malaysian and Singaporean franchise rights were bought by Saudi Arabia’s Lionhorn a year ago, as part of the US parent’s strategy of moving away from direct ownership in Asia.

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  • Gourmet burgers drive McDonald’s results

    Gourmet burgers drive McDonald’s results

    McDonald’s reported first quarter results that topped analysts’ forecast on Monday, helped by strength in international markets and U.S. consumers opting for more expensive burgers over value meals.

    Shares of the world’s biggest chain by revenue rose 4.2 percent to US$165.10 in premarket trading as global same-restaurant sales topped Wall Street forecasts, pulling profit higher.

    A multiyear turnaround plan launched by Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook three years ago, has brought menu changes, new technology to stores and restaurant upgrades to drive more traffic.

    High-margin “gourmet” burgers which offer fresh and more expensive ingredients, costing US$6 or US$7 a time compared to the chain’s US$1 to US$3 value options, raised the overall average U.S. check value.

    Global sales at stores open at least 13 months rose 5.5 percent, easily topping an average estimate of 3.94 percent and reflecting a 7.8 percent surge in the company’s more mature international markets – Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

    “This shows the power of the brand … globally the numbers were outstanding,” Peter Saleh, an analyst with brokerage BTIG, said. “The results were very impressive, actually more impressive than we initially had anticipated.”

    Excluding items, the company earned US$1.79 per share, beating the estimate of US$1.67. Revenue overall fell 9 percent as a result of refranchising – a cost-cutting move where the company sells McDonalds-owned outlets to a franchisee investor and receives only a cut of sales.

    The shape of the results also ran contrary to recent quarters, when McDonalds and other fast food chains have focused on battling each other with dollar menus, discounts on beverages and limited-time menu items as consumer spending cools.

    “It is clear that diners now see the value options as a permanent fixture and are no longer as excited or stimulated by them,” said Neil Saunders, Managing Director of market research house GlobalData Retail.

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  • Jollibee net profits rises in Q1

    Jollibee net profits rises in Q1

    Jollibee Foods Corp. said Friday net income rose 17.3 percent in the first 3 months of the year, as higher expenses offset growth in revenues, according to a stock exchange filing.

    Net income attributable to shareholders grew to P1.8 billion in the first quarter from P1.5 billion during the same period in 2017, the country’s largest fast food operator said.

    Gross revenues rose 19.4 percent to P35 billion while gross expenses rose 19.7 percent to nearly P32 billion, Jollibee said.

    Jollibee shares were up 2 percent at noon, compared to a 2.47-percent increase in the main index.

    Casual restaurant operator Max’s Group said Thursday net income fell 30 percent in the first quarter due to higher costs of raw materials and labor.

    Inflation reached a 5-year peak in April and on Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised the benchmark borrowing rate for the first time since September 2014.

  • Data privacy of Jollibee customers at risk

    Data privacy of Jollibee customers at risk

    The National Privacy Commission (NPC) gave popular fast-food chain Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) 10 days to come up with a plan to rehabilitate the vulnerabilities in its website, which, if exploited, could expose the data of millions of patrons.

    About 18 million people are at “high risk” of having their data exposed to harm, given that they are currently under Jollibee’s vulnerable online delivery database.

    In response to this, NPC ordered a handful of measures to be implemented by the company, including the suspension of JFC’s online delivery system until the site’s vulnerabilities are addressed.

    According to an NPC media advisory, the commission already sent JFC the official order on Tuesday afternoon, launching the 10-day countdown.

    NPC told the popular fast-food chain to come up with a security plan within 10 days, which would “ensure the integrity and retention of the database and its content.”

    On top of this, NPC also ordered JFC to “employ privacy by design” in reengineering JFC Group’s data infrastructure. Jollibee should also conduct a new privacy assessment, while filing a monthly progress report until the issues in the system are addressed.

    When asked what kinds of personal information were accessed, Francis Euston Acero, who leads NPC’s Complaints and Investigations Division (CID), said that the government hid which data were at risk on purpose.

    Nevertheless, he said it was the same as Wendy’s Philippines, another fast-food chain that faced similar privacy concern. The difference, however, is that Wendy’s had been breached, while JFC only has the potential to be hacked given the vulnerabilities.

    “We withheld that information deliberately because giving that information would give potential attackers avenues in,” he said in a previous phone interview with the Inquirer.

    JFC data protection officer J’Mabelard M. Gustilo first notified NPC about the risk in December last year, when then-unknown people were able to gain access to its delivery website.

    Upon investigation, NPC’s Complaints and Investigation Division (CID) found out that this was a result of a proof-of-concept initiative by a marketing public relations team “who made representations to a domestic cybersecurity firm.”

    CID later invited the cybersecurity firm, who said they noticed a “security gap” within the system.

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