"Koleksi Juara Lokal": Empowering Local Culinary MSMEs to Thrive

Artemis Indonesia is so happy to support GoFood in introducing their new initiative called "Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood" (GoFood's Local Champion Collection), a special category within the app that features curated menus from different regions. The aim is to boost the visibility of local culinary MSMEs to millions of loyal GoFood customers.

Gede Manggala, Head of Regions & External Affairs at Gojek, explained, "Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, there were 20.76 million MSMEs that joined digital platforms as of December 2022. Even after entering the digital ecosystem, MSMEs still require support and various innovations to help them develop their businesses. In addition to technological support, the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood initiative is one of Gojek's efforts through GoFood to continuously promote local culinary MSMEs that have gone digital, ensuring their continued existence and sustainable growth."

This latest initiative from GoFood provides opportunities for local culinary MSMEs to be more easily discovered by customers. The diverse range of regional dishes featured in the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood has been carefully curated based on recommendations of local specialties, legendary restaurants, hidden gems, and local favorites, as well as culinary MSMEs that have shown positive business growth and potential for further development.

"Through the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood, we aim to provide equal opportunities and visibility to local culinary MSMEs, enabling them to reach a wider customer base. This initiative was first launched in Bali in November 2022, coinciding with the G20 Summit. Now, the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood has been expanded to other cities, including Makassar, Medan, Balikpapan, Surabaya, Bandung, and Jabodetabek," added Gede.

Furthermore, according to research conducted by Alvara Research Center in 2022, Indonesian traditional and regional food was the most commonly sold category by MSMEs, accounting for 42.3% of total respondents interviewed. This finding has also motivated Gojek to take an active role in assisting the progress of culinary MSMEs that specialize in regional dishes.

Leonard Theosabrata, CEO of SMESCO Indonesia, also expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying, "SMESCO and GoFood share a common vision to uplift culinary MSMEs. We believe that the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood initiative can maximize the exposure of local culinary MSMEs selling regional menus on the online platform. SMESCO Indonesia appreciates the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood as one of Gojek's initiatives to support millions of digitally-enabled MSMEs in achieving sustainable growth."

One of the local champions in Jakarta that made it into the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood is Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat (Berkah Rachmat Fried Chicken). Established in the 1960s, Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat has managed to survive by maintaining its distinct flavor and quality, which has remained unchanged since its inception.

Febry Setiawan, the owner of Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat and a GoFood business partner, shared, "The key to Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat's existence for over 60 years lies in selecting good ingredients, having a unique flavor, and offering competitive prices. In the digital era, we must remain adaptive to maintain our competitiveness. This is what drove Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat to join GoFood six years ago, and our business has proven to grow as evidenced by a 5% to 10% annual increase in revenue. Even during the pandemic, 60% of our total sales came from GoFood."

"Since joining the Gojek ecosystem, we have always received the right business solutions tailored to our needs. Additionally, with Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat's inclusion in the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood, we are grateful to gain more exposure to loyal GoFood customers," Febry added.

Soto Betawi H. Ma'ruf, the pioneer of the Betawi-style soto soup made from a combination of milk and coconut milk without MSG, also made it into the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood. Mufti Maulana, the owner of Soto Betawi H. Ma'ruf and a GoFood business partner, explained, "Since 1943, we have consistently maintained the authentic Betawi taste while keeping an open mind towards the changing times. We are grateful and delighted that, thanks to joining GoFood, Soto Betawi H. Ma'ruf has continued to grow, with a 30% increase in revenue. Now, our business can be featured in the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood and easily discovered by customers."

The introduction of the Koleksi Juara Lokal GoFood also serves as an alternative for customers to enjoy their local culinary specialties. Offline, customers can visit restaurants with the Juara Lokal GoFood logo and place their orders through the GoFood service. To explore the diverse collection of Jabodetabek's local cuisines, GoFood customers can directly access the link bit.ly/JuaraJabodetabek or search for "Juara Lokal" in the app's main search bar.