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Jakarta Post

Income boost for snack producers ahead of Idul Fitri

Small and large-scale cookie and snack producers in East Java are starting to get very busy in anticipation of fulfilling the surge in demand for snacks, and are expecting a windfall during Ramadhan and ahead of the Idul Fitri festivity

Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post)
Surabaya
Sat, July 21, 2012

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Income boost for snack producers ahead of Idul Fitri

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mall and large-scale cookie and snack producers in East Java are starting to get very busy in anticipation of fulfilling the surge in demand for snacks, and are expecting a windfall during Ramadhan and ahead of the Idul Fitri festivity.

Some producers said that they were overwhelmed in trying to meet the market demand for Idul Fitri, as their sales had increased five-fold from regular days.

Isa Widyastuti, the owner of Roemah Snack Mekarsari, who makes snacks made of banana in Sidoarjo, said she had to prepare up to 10 tons of raw materials daily, while she usually “only” needs around 3 tons daily during average demand days.

“Preparations were being made about four months prior to Ramadhan. We get our supplies from 150 farmers in Trenggalek, whose farms span more than 250 hectares,” said Isa. She claims her fleet of trucks never stop transporting supplies, especially for Idul Fitri, to regions like Bali, Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

“Not to mention demand from overseas, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam,” said Isa, claiming that the sales could reach billions of rupiah.

Tutik Retnowati, a small-scale cookie producer who produces the Wnak Snack products in Pasuruan, shared similar sentiments. She said she has to constantly produce fried smoked banana, which is her best-selling product, for Idul Fitri.

A month ahead of Idul Fitri, she uses a ton of raw material, while she needs only 250 kilograms of ingredients on regular days.

Tutik sets the price of her margarine-fried smoked banana at Rp 5,500 (60 US cents) per 200-gram package for wholesale buyers, and Rp 7,500 for retail buyers.

“I am currently overwhelmed with meeting demand from Sidoarjo, Surabaya, Malang and Probolinggo, let alone ahead of Idul Fitri. I have to find alternative sources for raw material in Tulungagung and Trenggalek due to limited supplies,” said Tutik.

Tjahjo Prihandaru, who produces cassava crackers, could relate to her situation.

He even competes with tape (fermented cassava) producers in Bondowoso to obtain fresh cassava supplies, as he has to boost his production three times, from 250 kg to 750 kg of cassava crackers per month, to meet orders.

Meanwhile, in Sidoarjo regency, many housewives take advantage of the increased demand during Ramadhan to boost their income by selling Idul Fitri hampers.

One such lady is Sri Rahayu, who combines efforts with her children and in-laws to create various parcels at affordable prices.

“Based on our experience last year, we could sell up to 300 gift parcels. We adjust the prices so factory workers around here can afford to buy the parcels as well,” said Sri.

The parcels, sold between Rp 35,000 and Rp 45,000 each, contain three jars filled with three different cookies or sweets.

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