Wings Group Founder Harjo Sutanto Dies, This Is His Track Record

JAKARTA - Sad news came from the Indonesian business world. One of the founders of Wings Group, Joseph Harjo Sutanto, died on Wednesday, September 10, at the age of 102.

Harjo Sutanto's old name is on the Forbes Real Time Billionaire list. Forbes reported his net worth of why 530 million US dollars in 2020. He was also included in the ranks of the 50 richest people in Indonesia that year.

This wealth cannot be separated from its success in building the Wings Group. No wonder, his name is closely related to the journey of Wings Group, a giant consumer company whose products are familiar in Indonesian households.

Based on various sources, the man who was born in Tulungagung, East Java started his business in Surabaya in 1948. He and his friends, Johanes F Katauri and Wakijo Tanojo started a soap business called Fa Wings.

The soap products are marketed door to door, from house to house, shop to shop, until they are finally sold through agents.

His business is growing, Wings is developing a bar and liquid bath soap product with the GIV trademark.

Wings expands its portfolio to detergents, floor cleaners, clothing softeners, toothpaste, and other hygiene products. Innovation continues with more modern packaging and market penetration to various regions in Indonesia.

Then, Wings formed a joint venture with Lion Corporation Japan, giving birth to PT Lion Wings. This collaboration paved the way for products such as dental care, modern detergent, and other household needs with more advanced technology.

This collaboration produces several brands that are currently being sold on the market such as Ciptident, Systema, Cumur medicine Systema Mouthwash. Shinzui liquid bath soap, Emeron Lovely, to Shinzui Skin Lightening stem soap.

The Wings Group expansion continues into the food segment. One of the biggest steps is to launch Mie Sedaap, which is now the main challenger to Indomie's dominance in the Indonesian instant noodle market.

In addition to instant noodles, Wings also develops other food products such as soy sauce, sauce, margarine, to cooking spices.

Recently, Wings Group is also exploring businesses in bottled drinking water products (AMDK). The mineral water brand released by Wings Group is Aquaviva. The presence of these products also enlivens the competition for mineral water.