Big up Jamaica!
From the rhythms of reggae to the fire of scotch bonnet peppers, Jamaica has always known how to make the world take notice. Now, one of the island’s most iconic culinary staples is taking center stage in a history-making way. Juici Patties, the beloved Jamaican fast-food chain, has become the first of its kind to successfully expand to the United States, a cultural and entrepreneurial breakthrough decades in the making, Black Enterprise reports.
After launching its first U.S. location in South Florida, Juici Patties made headlines again with its Brooklyn debut this past May, where crowds lined up for a taste of home. But this isn’t just about patties, it’s about possibility.
“We’ve signed 57 franchise agreements for the U.S. so far, and all should open by late 2027,” shared Daniel Chin, CEO of Juici Patties USA and Director of Operations for the parent company. And what makes this even more extraordinary? The entire expansion is being done without private equity, an uncommon feat for any international brand, and nearly unheard of for a Caribbean-based business.
Juici Patties began humbly in 1980, when Daniel’s father, Jukie Chin, turned a family recipe into a small shop staffed by just three people. Long before the expansion dreams, there was a teenage Jukie in his mother’s kitchen, perfecting what would become Jamaica’s go-to comfort food, the beef patty. Flaky, golden, and bursting with bold island flavor, the patty would become both a national treasure and the foundation for a family legacy.
“My dad started the business when he was young, and I joined 12 years ago,” Daniel explained. “The company remains 100% family-owned.”
For Daniel, whose Asian-Jamaican roots trace back to his grandparents’ migration from China to Jamaica in the 1950s, this moment is deeply personal. “This is more than just a business. This is an opportunity for a Jamaican company and brand to expand on the global stage and show the world that Jamaica has a lot of potential,” he said. “Being from Jamaica, being in the Caribbean, it gave me that extra motivation to do something that has never been done before.”
That drive required more than vision. It demanded a total transformation in operations, especially in customer service. “About 8-10 years ago, our customer service was pretty bad,” Chin admitted. “We didn’t have that consistency that I hoped for.” The team reimagined everything from hiring and training to compensation.
The result? Within two years, Juici ranked number one for customer service in Jamaica. “If you treat somebody like an owner for long enough, eventually they start acting like an owner,” Chin said. Today, 96% of employees say they’d recommend working at Juici to their own family and friends.
The transformation was also rooted in Daniel’s unique blend of book smarts and boots-on-the-ground experience. At the University of Guelph in Canada, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce with a focus on hospitality, blending economics, accounting, and food science. “It was a mix of business with a little bit of culinary,” he said. But that formal education was only one piece of the puzzle. “What I learned at Guelph was great preparation, but doing business in Jamaica is a lot different than doing business in the U.S.,” he shared. From his father, he learned the value of people and relationships. “Our success is because of them.”
That cultural fluency has become a cornerstone of Juici’s U.S. franchise model, where the majority of franchisees are Jamaican Americans. “They bring in business partners, some not Jamaican, but friends of theirs or business partners,” Chin said, ensuring that each new location is steeped in both authenticity and local connection.
Scaling smart has also meant scaling with integrity. “One of the most important things for me is quality. Without the quality of the product, we don’t have a business,” Chin emphasized. Remaining fully family-owned allows Juici to set and uphold its own standards. “We don’t hold back on the scotch bonnet. We don’t hold back on the flavor. We go full speed,” he said. Even as Juici introduced a milder patty to suit American palates, the company’s signature spicy beef version remains unapologetically bold.
With eyes on opening 3,000 locations across the U.S., Juici Patties is not just feeding cravings — it’s feeding a movement. One rooted in Caribbean pride, family legacy, and proof that excellence knows no borders.
Cover photo: Juici Patties Makes History as First Jamaican Fast-Food Chain to Successfully Expand to the U.S./Photo credit: JuiciPatties_US/Instagram