PT Garudafood Putra Putri Jaya Tbk (GOOD) recorded a sales increase of 8.1 % in January this year compared to the same period last year.

Director of Garudafood Putra Putri Jaya, Paulus Tedjosutikno, said this shows that the government's stimulus policy has begun to increase people's purchasing power. The stimuli referred to include social assistance programs, tax breaks for the community, and national vaccinations that have already started.

"During the period December 2020 to January 2021, our sales grew 5.3%," Paulus said in Jakarta, Friday (5/3).

The sales growth was contributed by several new products that the company launched at the end of 2020, such as Garuda Potato and Garuda O'Corn. In total, sales of these products account for up to 20%.

For your information, Garuda Potato is a snack with a unique shape and is the first innovation in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Garuda O'Corn, resulting from its open collaboration with global partners, successfully developed the Bugles brand.

"These two products have proven to be successful and well-received by snack lovers in Indonesia, especially among children and adults," said Paulus.

Thus, Garudafood is optimistic that the food and beverage industry sector will improve in the first quarter of 2021. By carrying out the tagline leading in innovation, the company is committed to launching new, innovative products in each category to color the domestic market.

A subsidiary of Garudafood Putra Putri Jaya, PT Sinarniaga Sejahtera, had a strategic partnership with a chocolate manufacturer from Zurich (Switzerland), Barry Callebaut Group compound chocolate products (a combination of cocoa powder and vegetable fat) with the Van Houten Professional brand.

The cooperation is a continuation of the strategic partnership between Barry Callebaut and Garudafood, which was first established in 2015. The partnership now focuses on the compound chocolate industry's supply through two chocolate factories in Indonesia, namely in Gresik, East Java, and Rancaekek, West Java.

In the cooperation agreement contained, the company's subsidiary will market the Van Houten Professional brand compound chocolate product from Barry Callebaut, targeting consumers of 'artisan,' bakery chains, cafes, restaurants, wholesalers, to home-made cake makers.  The company and Barry Callebaut Chocolate Asia Pacific Pte Ltd have signed the agreement on 9 February 2021.