'Not For Hoarding, But For Cooking Fried Chicken', Says Indomaret Manager Owned By Conglomerate Anthony Salim, Denies Rumors Of Hoarding Cooking Oil

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA – PT Indomarco Prismatama has finally opened its voice regarding the news about the hoarding of subsidized cooking oil at the Indomaret franchise outlets in Pringsewu, Lampung.

The company owned by conglomerate Anthony Salim, which oversees the Indomaret trademark, denied the news.

“In addition to selling basic necessities, in certain places, Indomaret also provides ready-to-eat food, including Yummy Fried Chicken. This ready-to-eat product requires cooking oil as raw material and products stored near the kitchen in the outlet area are not sold because they are intended for frying the chicken, as was found in the inspection on February 14, 2022," said Marketing Director Indomarco Darmawi Alie when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, February 15. .

According to Darmawi, the actual chronology was that when there was an inspection by elements of the Satpol PP, the Industry and Trade Service and the Pringsewu DPRD at Indomaret Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Pringsewu, the supply of 66 liters of cooking oil consisted of 32 liters of General Sudirman's store stock and 22 liters of Ahmad Yani's store stock.

"But at that time the shop had not taken it and the stock had just arrived 12 liters," he said.

Then to answer the inspection team's question, the employee explained that the inventory was used for frying.

However, the cooking oil was asked to be removed to be taken. After coordination, Indomaret employees made a report and information for the extraction of the extracted oil.

Meanwhile, the supply of cooking oil for frying purposes at Indomaret Jalan Ahmad Yani is 12 pieces (24 liters), and the inspection team asked to sell it.

"According to the system on the cashier's computer, the cooking oil cannot be sold, so it is sold manually and there are 8 pieces left. Coordination has been carried out with the Pringsewu Regency Disperindag and it was explained that the stock in the store is actually used for frying chicken and not for stockpiling," he explained.

Darmawi added, obediently following the government's policy regarding the Highest Retail Price (HET) for cooking oil of Rp. 14,000 per liter for the needs of the community.

“Our business principle is that cooking oil products are sent from distributors and then we forward them to Indomaret outlets to be sold directly to end consumers. Supply from factories is still limited, so there is a vacancy,” he said.

“Warehouses at Indomaret outlets are very limited so there is no hoarding and we have no intention of holding back cooking oil. In our efforts, we remain consistent in supporting the government's cooking oil policy and in accordance with Aprindo's directives," concluded Darmawi.