Bandeng Juwana Doubles Production Ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026

PT Bandeng Juwana is increasing production by double and adding 20 daily workers to face the surge in demand ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026. Preparations were initially hampered by supplies of raw milkfish due to bad weather that triggered harvest failures in several ponds. Director of PT Bandeng Juwana, Jason Nathaniel Kusmadi, said the company has started preparing stocks since two to three months ago to welcome returnees and tourists during Eid. He noted that flooding conditions caused fish to escape or failed harvests, so the supply of raw milkfish did not meet targets. Normally, the company can receive 12 to 15 tonnes of raw milkfish per week, but ahead of Eid this year, the supply is only about half. However, after processing, the weight of the milkfish still shrinks by around 30 to 40 percent. To anticipate stock shortages during Eid, the company sets aside delivery stocks from several weeks prior and processes some milkfish into vacuum products that last up to three to four months. In addition to increasing production, PT Bandeng Juwana is also adding around 20 daily workers recruited temporarily for two weeks ahead of Eid. “Daily workers are usually recruited again from previous years, many are also students on holiday. They help in production, packing, warehouse, to the shop,” he said. “The crowds usually start after Eid, from H+2 or H+3. People returning to their hometowns come here to buy souvenirs before going back,” he added. Besides milkfish, the shop also sells various consignment products such as mochi, jenang, wingko, lumpia, tofu meatballs, bakpia, and other typical snacks. Although this year’s stock does not meet targets, they hope the supply is still sufficient to meet demand at the peak of Eid. One private sector employee from Surabaya, Elisa, admitted to deliberately buying up souvenirs in the form of milkfish and wingko babat for Eid homecoming to her hometown. “I’m going home to Surabaya, so I’m buying milkfish and wingko babat as souvenirs, because the family likes Bandeng Juwana, so there are many orders,” said Elisa.