TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Turning an ordinary experience into success

For some people who can see what most people do not, an ordinary life experience can be a stepping stone to achieving great success

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Mon, September 13, 2010

Share This Article

Change Size

Turning an ordinary experience into success

F

or some people who can see what most people do not, an ordinary life experience can be a stepping stone to achieving great success.

Arief Wirawangsadita, the owner of Sundanese restaurant chain Bumbu Desa, the inspiration to start a restaurant came from his very ordinary experience when he engaged in village life in Garut, West Java.

“At the time, by seeing how they lived and ate, I realized that Sundanese culinary tradition was very rich,” he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Arief then tried to observe the richness of the tradition by compiling a list of traditional Sundanese dishes from other areas in West Java. He said he was thrilled by the fact that Sundanese food did not only possess a unique taste, but was also made up of healthy natural ingredients.

He opened the first Bumbu Desa in 2004 in Bandung, West Java, where he employed housewives and domestic helpers who could cook Sundanese food. Arief says he did it to show his appreciation to those who had dedicated their life to preserving Sundanese culinary traditions.

“I have seen many restaurants serving Sundanese food fail to serve the original taste of the food I know,” he said.

Through his restaurant, Arief says he wanted to allow customers the unforgettable experience of enjoying not only Sundanese food, but also the peaceful village ambience by decorating the restaurant interior with village paraphernalia. He hung photographs showing villagers working in rice fields and herding cattle to make visitors appreciate their humble way of life.

In running Bumbu Desa, Arief says he applied the philosophy that he had to share his happiness with people involved in his business. He believes that everything that comes from a sincere heart would result in something that could satisfy customers.

“I always try to make my employees happy by fulfilling their basic needs. I don’t pay them below minimum wage. I also reward them with bonuses if they show good performance,” said the father of three.

Arief decided to turn Bumbu Desa into a franchise in 2006 after he had opened four outlets. Bumbu Desa currently had 34 outlets across the country, he said, adding that the restaurant was now present in almost all major cities in Indonesia, including Pekanbaru in Riau, Palembang in South Sumatra, Padang in West Sumatra, Jakarta, Bandung in West Java, Yogyakarta, Surabaya in East Java, Bali, Makassar in South Sulawesi and Manado in North Sulawesi.

“We offer several investment packages ranging from Rp 1 billion to Rp 4.5 billion for potential franchisees,” he said, adding that an outlet could reap monthly revenues of between Rp 300 million and Rp 1 billion depending on its size.

Bumbu Desa has emerged as one of the leading restaurant chains in the country. However, Arief’s achievement does not satisfy him yet. He said he was preparing to expand his business abroad.

“We received many offers from overseas partners in Japan and Saudi Arabia. But we asked them to be patient. We need to prepare our business first. We want it to be as perfect as possible,” Arief, an alumnus of Bandung’s Parahyangan University, said.

“I want my restaurant to be a representative of Indonesia in other countries. I want foreigners see that we can provide high quality food with high quality service,” he added.

Arief was born in 1965 in Bandung. Apart from Bumbu Desa, he also owns a luxury resort in Garut, Kampung Sampireun. He is currently planning to build a five-star environmentally friendly hotel in Mount Kamojang, West Java. (rdf)

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.