Processed Tempe Indonesia Enters The Japanese Market Through Distributor Kobe Bussan

JAKARTA - Indonesian processed food products tempeh from Superfood will enter the Japanese market through one of the major Japanese distributors, namely Kobe Bussan Co.Ltd. Consumers in Kansai, Japan, will soon be able to enjoy Indonesian tempeh at the Gyomu Supaa supermarket chain which is one of the chains The largest supermarket in Japan, said the Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka in a statement received in Jakarta, Thursday. The entry of Indonesian tempeh into the Japanese market is the result of the signing of a reorder contract between PT Arumi Kharisma Indonesia and Kobe Bussan Co.Ltd with a volume of up to 13.8 tons which will be distributed to the Kansai and Kanto regions of Japan, which will be held on Wednesday (29/9). The Indonesian Consul General in Osaka, Diana ES Sutikno, who also witnessed the signing, expressed his appreciation to the ranks of Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. for the trust to import and distribute Indonesian food and beverage products in Japan. "I am also proud of the hard work of PT. Arumi Kharisma Indonesia which maintains the consistency of quality and safety of processed tempe products so that it can be said that Indonesian tempe exports are pioneers to Japan," said the Consul General. Diana, reported by Antara, Thursday, September 30.

Diana said that Indonesia's food and beverage exports to Japan have great opportunities and are quite competitive with food products from other countries. According to her, high quality and safety factors as well as attractive and practical packaging are important things in ensuring increased market penetration and sustainability. exports of Indonesian food products to Japan. "Indonesian food and beverage products must have lab test results that are recognized in Japan. Therefore, this cannot be separated from the role of the POM in ensuring export quality products are truly safe and in accordance with international standards," he said. Regarding the tempeh imported by Kobe Bussan, the President of Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. Japan Hirokazu Numata admitted that at first he did not expect Japanese people to like Indonesian tempe. "Therefore, today we signed a cooperation contract to order tempeh in larger quantities with Indonesian suppliers and it will be available at the end of October 2021," he said.

According to Hirokazu, tempeh is increasingly in demand by Japanese citizens because it is classified as healthy and nutritious food. In addition to imports from Indonesia, tempeh is also produced in Japan by Indonesian diaspora entrepreneurs, namely Sariraya Tempe and Rusto's Tempeh. Meanwhile, Head of Kobe Busan Product Development Division Kana Fujita said that the company is open to new products, especially food and beverage products from Indonesia. "Currently we are still exploring this potential, and are actively looking for partners in Indonesia who can cooperate with Kobe Bussan," said Kana. Tempe is our priority to enter the Japanese market. Of course I also ask for the assistance of the Indonesian Representative in Osaka to provide assistance until it is ready to enter the Japanese Market," he continued. In 2020, the export value of Indonesian food and beverage products to Japan reached 304.8 million dollars United States, with a trend of increasing export value over the last 5 years by 3.27 percent. This rapid growth must be continues to be improved in line with the trend of the Japanese market which is starting to look at quality products. This is a challenge as well as an opportunity for Indonesian food and beverage products in Japan, said Consul General Diana. In the future, according to him, promotional efforts need to be synergized with continuous education to the Japanese people on how to process and eat processed food products from Indonesia.