Broken cookies still sell

Broken cookies still sell

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta is full of options for the entrepreneur.

If one cares to go the extra mile and project a good
bargaining skill, canned cookies, commonly sold in supermarkets,
can be bought on the street at about 30 percent from the shelf
price.

Street vendors also sell broken, but not passed their expiry
date, cookies for those not so meticulous about the condition of
the biscuits they consume. These cookies are sold by the ounce,
and are definitely cheaper from the ones sealed and intact inside
cans.

Every year during Ramadhan, and close to Christmas, vendors
line the streets in front of the Khong Guan cookies factory in
Ciracas, offering a wide selection of biscuits, mainly from the
factory.

Narwan, a vendor, said he took on the same business last year.
During the off-holiday season, he makes money selling garments at
the Pasar Rebo market.

"It's a pretty good business," he said. "And it's not
difficult to sell, I've noticed that even people who are not from
around this area came and bought the cookies."

Many customers, he noted, purchase in large amounts.

Canned cookies can be had for anywhere from Rp 10,000 to Rp
25,000, depending on their type; the broken ones, meanwhile, are
sold at between Rp 3,000 to Rp 5,000 per ounce.

"At the breaking of the fast, we would usually have snacks
beside the main course ... because the price is cheaper from the
stores, I choose to get the cookies from here," said Maimunah,
who just bought a can of wafer biscuits.

Not far from where she was standing, a group of women were
selecting a variety of broken biscuits.

"It's not expired and it's still consumable, the only
difference is that these biscuits are not packed in plastic or
cans ... I see no reason why I shouldn't buy this," said Nursita,
a resident of Ciracas.

She bought some of the canned biscuits to serve to her family
and guest on Lebaran.

Meanwhile, according to the vendors, the busiest time arrives
three days before the holiday.

"The price could go up a bit on those days," Narwan said.
"But, of course, it's negotiable."