Es Teler 77 staff run outlet

JAKARTA (JP): Employees of Es Teler 77, an Indonesian food chain with 189 outlets across the country, opened their first self-run outlet at Cinere Mal shopping center in South Jakarta yesterday.

The outlet cost around Rp 100 million (US$38,460), collected from the employee's cooperative savings fund, Es Teler 77 owner Sukyatno Nugroho told The Jakarta Post.

"Unlike other Es Teler 77 outlets, the Cinere Mal outlet doesn't need to pay franchise fees to us," he said.

Under the scheme, Sukyatno hoped the employees could set up more outlets in the near future to help their social welfare.

According to Sukyatno, the new outlet -- inaugurated by the franchise's chief commissioner, Trisno Budiyanto, -- is owned by about 1,000 of his employees who are members of the employee's cooperative.

Besides Es Teler 77, Sukyatno is also the franchisor of Mie Tek-Tek and Pasti Enak food outlets.

The Indonesian Franchisers Association revealed that there are about 2,000 foreign food outlets currently operating in Indonesia. (bsr)