PT Unilever Optimistic Food Industry Still Demonstrates Positive Trends

By : Ridwan And Aldi Firhand. A | Monday, December 04 2017 - 17:23 IWST

Unilever Headquarters, Grha Unilever in Green Office BSD city, Tangerang, Banten (Chodijah Febriyani / Industry.co.di)

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The food and beverage industry is a very strategic industry and has a bright enough prospect to be developed in the country.

Food Director of PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk, Hernie Raharja said, the food business is still showing a positive trend.

"However, in the future the challenges of the food industry will be greater," Hernie told INDUSTRY.co.id after the Kadin Workshop in Jakarta (11/30/2017) yesterday.

She sees in addition to the turmoil of the food industry itself, the biggest challenge comes from the deflation of agricultural products that impact on the purchasing power of the lower classes.

"We expect the government to immediately complete its projects so that people's consumption can grow," she explained.

According to her, PT Unilever Indonesia's food division will still grow. Unfortunately Hernie still does not want to reveal how growing. "We will continue to continue the strategy to meet the needs of the people of Indonesia," said Hernie.

As is known, PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (UNVR) collected net profit of Rp5, 23 trillion until the third quarter (Q3) 2017 or up 10.1 percent compared to same period last year amounting to Rp 4.75 trillion.

The increase was supported by net sales of Rp31, 2 trillion in the third quarter of 2017. The number is slightly higher than the third quarter of last year amounted to Rp30, 1 trillion.

For food and refreshment category, the company recorded sales of Rp10.1 trillion. While in the category of home and personal care, sales reached Rp 21 trillion.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry (Menperin), Airlangga Hartarto said that the growth of the food and beverage industry in Indonesia is quite encouraging, consistent with nine percent per year, higher than the national economic growth.

"The food and beverage industry is also consistent with the growth of the economy, so we continue to encourage growth and growth as its contribution to the country's revenue reaches 30 percent," Airlangga said.

Currently and in the future, he said, the potential for developing the food and beverage industry is very wide open because the industry is not controlled by one or two large companies, but is fragmented with many industries.

"This industry is also easy to market its products through social networking media," lid Menperin.