35 Years of Cepat Saji Restaurant Supports Food to Local Farmers

McDonalds Indonesia's 35th anniversary in Indonesia. (Dinno/VOI)

JAKARTA - The utilization of local raw materials is increasingly becoming a concern in the culinary industry in Indonesia, including in efforts to build a sustainable supply chain that has a direct impact on farmers and regional business actors.

Long-term collaboration with domestic suppliers not only contributes to product quality, but also opens up space for broader local economic empowerment.

This approach has been carried out by McDonald's Indonesia for decades of its presence in the country. Since opening its first restaurant in Sarinah Thamrin, Central Jakarta, in 1991, this company has grown in line with the dynamics of Indonesian society.

Until now, this one restaurant has operated more than 300 restaurants spread across 94 cities, with the involvement of thousands of local workers and partners in various regions.

In its journey, McDonald's Indonesia is said to be trying to absorb local cultural wealth and tastes, while upholding values that are closely associated with the Indonesian people such as family, gotong royong, and trust.

These values are the foundation in building long-term relationships with customers, employees, and business partners.

Entering their 35th year, they reaffirmed this commitment through the spirit of "Fully Indonesian", which is positioned as a reflection of the community's journey as well as a foothold to continue to contribute relevantly in various regions.

"For us, 'Fully Indonesian' is not just a theme for the anniversary celebration, but a commitment that we have built since the beginning of McDonald's presence in Indonesia. This is a form of appreciation for the trust, loyalty, and togetherness that has been built for 35 years, where we have become part of the people's life journey," said Associate Director of Marketing McDonald's Indonesia, Caroline Kurniadjaja, in a press conference. Fully Indonesia in Jakarta, recently.

"Therefore, we will continue to be present and adapt through innovation, while opening up employment opportunities to provide a positive impact for communities and communities in various regions," he added.

In line with changing consumer needs and behavior, this fast food restaurant continues to adjust its services. Various innovations have been introduced, ranging from the presence of Drive Thru services, the development of McDelivery, to the optimization of digital channels which are now part of the lifestyle of urban people.

On the other hand, consumer confidence is also maintained through the implementation of strict food safety standards in accordance with the principle of halalan thayyiban. This commitment makes McDonald's Indonesia the first fast food restaurant in Indonesia to obtain halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in 1994, as well as halal certificates throughout the period from the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Organization (BPJPH) in 2024.

Adaptation to the local market is also reflected in the development of menus with Nusantara flavors, such as uduk rice, chicken curry, and rendang burgers, which are designed specifically for Indonesian consumers by adjusting taste preferences.

The value of togetherness and social concern is part of McDonald's Indonesia's journey. Throughout 2025, through the "Mekdi for Humanity" program, the company carried out more than 11,000 social activities which include children's education, renovation of school facilities, visits to social welfare centers, the Friday Blessing program, to assistance for victims of natural disasters.

The series of activities reached 99 cities and regencies in Indonesia, with more than 50,000 food packages distributed to people in need.

Internally, McDonald's Indonesia employs more than 10,000 employees, including people with disabilities. Various training programs are also carried out to improve skills and open career development opportunities.

Strengthening the local ecosystem is also carried out through partnerships with domestic suppliers. Around 76 percent of its raw materials come from local suppliers, including chicken meat, vegetables, eggs, rice, chili, and oil.

Since 2023, the company has also provided BPJS Employment facilities to more than 100 supplier partners as a form of protection and appreciation for their role in maintaining the sustainability of the supply chain.

"I started working with the presence since 1993 as a small-scale farmer in Bali. From the beginning, I felt that this partnership was built sincerely and based on trust," said Made Gunada, one of the supplier partners.

He added that the assistance provided, including the improvement of production facilities, allowed his business to expand to West Java, Central Java, and East Java by involving hundreds of local farmers.

"Currently, we supply more than 50 percent of McDonald's restaurants in Indonesia. The economic impact of this partnership is not only felt by our business, but also by farmers and the local economy," he said.

In order to mark 35 years of travel, this restaurant presents a short film entitled Fully Indonesian which raises the story of everyday life and the value of community togetherness. This film was made by involving local talents, such as Dimas Djayadiningrat as director and Ario Bayu as the actor.

"The making of the short film 'Completely Indonesian' feels special because it puts the essence of the story and the main message at its center. The sincere approach to storytelling is the main focus," said Dimas.

Meanwhile, Ario Bayu considers the film as a form of respect for the noble values of the Indonesian people.

"Fully Indonesian" I mean as a way of doing everything with the heart, starting from good intentions, being tried with sincerity, and producing good," he said.

Looking ahead, McDonald's Indonesia stated that it would continue to carry out various initiatives that focus on innovation, collaboration with local players, and social contributions, in line with changing community needs and the challenges of an ever-evolving industry.