Malaysian Coffee Kopi Belalang Enters Indonesia Market

From Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, May 13 (Bernama) -- Classic Worldwide International Group (CWIG), maker of Malaysian coffee brand Pak Belalang, is venturing into the Indonesia market this Saturday, targeting monthly sales of US$24.8 million (RM100 million). (US$1 = RM4.03) CWGI Chief Executive Officer and Founder Dr Rozaini Hassan expressed optimism the target could be reached in six months via a systematic marketing strategy. He said the company has invested US$992,167 (RM4 million) to open a factory and office in Tangerang and Jakarta, with production expected to begin in two months. "For a start, we will employ 100 to 150 local workers for the production division, we already have 30 locals in the management division," he told reporters here Thursday. The factory -- its first fully-owned overseas plant -- will produce 500,000 boxes of coffee a month to be distributed nationwide by sales agents. In Malaysia, CWIG has three factories including two in Sungai Petani, Kedah and one in Shah Alam, Selangor. Rozaini said the company is also launching its latest product, Kopi Pak Belalang Ori, at an event in which one million packets are given free to one million people, a feat that could earn a spot in the Indonesia Guinness Book of Records. The event will be officiated by Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and will feature performances by Ahmad Dhani, the brand ambassador. Rozaini said CWIG is eyeing a 16 per cent share of the Indonesia market of 300 million people. Kopi Pak Belalang, introduced two years ago, commands a 25 per cent share of the Malaysian pre-mixed coffee market with monthly sales of US$14.88 million (RM60 million). -- BERNAMA