45 Years of Love With Tita Julie’s
Four decades since, Julie’s bakeshop’s iconic breads has been a staple of every Filipino breakfast and merienda.
Words Marc Nathaniel M. Servo
Photo Courtesy of Julie’s Bakeshop
March 25, 2026
In a humble bakery in Wireless, Mandaue City once stood Julie Gandiongco, a baker with the vision of serving freshly-baked bread in every barangay with a warm smile.
The smell of hot bread fresh from the oven wafts invitingly to locals, and there, they are greeted with a smile enough to start their day with a fulfilled stomach and happy hearts.
Now known as Tita Julie of Julie’s Bakeshop, her name became a household brand known for Filipino classics like pandesal, ensaymada, sliced breads, and even coffee. With over 600 stores, her legacy is cemented for its dedication to share love through bread for more than four decades.
In its 45th anniversary, Julie’s traced back its roots to 1981, where it sprouted in Cebu. Together with its suppliers, partners, and franchise owners, the country’s largest neighborhood bakeshop celebrated its milestone and renewed its commitment to feeding Filipino families with delicious, affordable bread.
“Without my Mama Julie, whose bold vision, steadfast determination, and boundless generosity laid the cornerstone of Julie’s, none of these would have been possible. It is her legacy that continues to guide every step we take,” President and CEO Joseph Gandionco shared.
In his speech, he emphasized the values his mother, Julie, kept at heart when the bakeshop started. From the trademark greetings and warmhearted smiles, Gandiongco promises to dedicate the bakeshop into satiating not just the stomach, but the heart of Filipinos who grew up eating their staple.
With this very vision, Julie’s overcame challenges posed by the pandemic and other calamities while also continuing their service of giving back to the community.
During the September 2025 magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu, the titular bakehouse distributed bundles of bread to over 500 families, a small, kind gesture that helped families survive the time of crisis.
During this year’s Sinulog, they also participated in the celebration through their annual feeding drive for devotees, giving back to the hometown where Julie’s first took the step forward.
Now, Julie’s is gearing up with its future-ready leaders and projects, keeping the tradition of warm smiles and loving bread a staple for every Filipino generation.
Actress and brand ambassador Kim Chiu will be joining Julie’s Sama Sata event in Cebu in February to meet and greet the loyal customers of the bakeshop. Julie’s will also be collaborating with Island Souvenirs for brand new shirts available soon.
