News
PNM Mekaar Client Turns Bitter Melon into Unique Snacks
Front Row (The Jakarta Post) July 24, 2024
PNM Mekaar client Yulianti and Hintalu Asin Oza products under her Bakoel Oza brand. (PNM).
Yulianti, a client of PNM Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera (PNM Mekaar), has a compelling story in her venture into unique snacks. Her business idea stemmed from her child's aversion to vegetables but love for snacks. She decided to create healthy snacks, leading to the innovation of bitter melon due to its digestive benefits.
"I experimented to give bitter melon a different taste for my child. Eventually, I modified it with flour batter to make crispy bitter melon," said Yulianti.
Despite initial setbacks, Yulianti persisted, refining her recipes until they were loved by her child. Through Facebook, she shared her success story of crispy bitter melon.
"Many were curious, so I sent samples. Eventually, I started selling seriously in 2023, alongside duck egg products," said the resilient woman, the backbone of her family.
According to Yulianti, the key to snack business success lies in having a unique identity, consistency and continuous learning. Appealing packaging also attracts customers initially. She feels fortunate to be part of PNM Mekaar, receiving free business development training.
"I was assisted in obtaining easy capital without collateral. My product's presentation became more attractive after packaging training," she added.
Currently, Yulianti's venture under the brand Bakoel Oza holds a halal certification with monthly sales reaching up to Rp20 million. Her customers range from the general public to government offices, and her products are even marketed at a local four-star hotel in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province. She believes that with determination, a household-scale business can compete with other SMEs.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
