As A Result Of The Increase In Fuel, Warteg Entrepreneurs Will Take The Food Price 20 Percent

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Warteg entrepreneurs are preparing to raise prices on the food menu sold.

This step follows the government's decision to increase the price of fuel oil (BBM).

The increase in fuel prices has an impact on the high price of foodstuffs in the market.

Head of the Warteg Nusantara Community (Kowantara) Mukroni said increasing food prices was the last choice if all food prices rose and could no longer be followed by reducing or replacing materials.

"The increase is percentaged below 20 percent, for example the Telu Mariju, which was previously Rp. 5,000, is now Rp. 6,000," he told VOI, Tuesday, September 6.

Meanwhile, tempeh, said Mukroni, can still be followed by changing its size. The goal is to teach the selling price not to go up.

"It is impossible for the previous Rp1,000 to increase by Rp. 1,500 to be 50 percent, so it doesn't increase in price but is reduced in size. What was previously as thick as a notebook can now be as thin as an ATM card," he explained.

However, on the other hand, Mukroni admitted that increasing food prices made warteg entrepreneurs worried about being left behind by buyers.

Especially considering that people's purchasing power has not recovered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"About this buyer, what makes the members of Kowantara dizzy because people's purchasing power has not fully recovered," he said.

Mukroni added that increasing food prices also did not necessarily solve the problem.

Therefore, continued Mukroni, warteg owners must also deal with the increase in the rental price of business places which are predicted to increase.

"Actually, the large cost is rented or rented out for the place, sometimes warteg can close because they can't afford to pay rent. Because yesterday was the pandemic, now the increase in food prices will certainly make it difficult for us to extend the rental or rent," he said.