This is said by Aprindo when the retailer guarantees selling products on the streets

Reporter: Amalia Nur Fitri | Editor: Anna Suci Perwitasari

KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. The Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) assesses that the steps taken by food and beverage retailers or FnB in selling products on the streets are a temporary strategy that must be taken to survive the pandemic.

Deputy Chairman of Aprindo, Fernando Repi said that this was done because retailers have no other way because the closure of the mall has an impact on the absence of visitors and has implications for a decrease in turnover.

“I think this is only part of survival or a temporary strategy to survive, “he said in a discussion on The 2nd MarkPlus Industry Roundtable: Retail Industry Perspective which took place virtually, Friday (16/10).

Also Read: Stung by Covid-19, Sarimelati Kencana (PZZA) launched a mobile food truck

He added, even at the beginning of the implementation period of the first PSBB volume, his party also had time to think about selling its products in pick-up cars and going around to approach consumers.

For information, several food retailers such as the Boga Group, the manager of the Tawan restaurant, to the issuer PT Sarimelati Kencana Tbk (PZZA) hawking products on the road to launching a concept foodtruck to increase sales during a pandemic.

“Yes, I also thought like that in the early PSBB period. However, when conditions were normal and people returned to the mall, this no longer exists. This is not a long-term strategy,” he continued.

Fernando continued, to date, overall retail transactions have fallen by more than 60%. Even specifically in the retail sector fashion, the decline fell by almost 80%.

He said, in addition to the strategy of going to the field as has been done by several retailers, his party assesses that the strategy of switching to an omni channel and collaboration with supplier vendors is also necessary.

“This is to provide the best offer for consumers. In the future, shopping through omni channels will become a new habit,” he said.

He gave an example such as Superindo, which offers a 10% cashback discount with LinkAja, Alfamart, which uses a cashback of IDR 125,000 with GoPay, then Lotte Mart, which collaborates with GoFood to shop for basic necessities, then Hypermart, which goes to Shopee, GrabMart, issued a Chat and Shop feature. Not to forget, Fernando also gave an example of Alfamart, which launched a shopping service drive thru at the time of the pandemic.

Also Read: The growth of the food and beverage industry has been hampered during the corona pandemic

He added that from the point of view of modern retailers who have outlets, it is also necessary to reduce the shop area to less than 100 square meters. This was coupled with reducing overtime hours and contract labor, and closing negative shops.

“It is undeniable that the impact of the PSBB and this pandemic is profound, and we see that this strategy is relevant in the future,” he said.