From a Simple Kitchen, BRI-Supported Date Processing Business Generates Significant Profits
The warm aroma of chocolate mixed with the sweetness of dates fills a modest 6x5 metre kitchen on Jalan Bojong, Legok, Tangerang, Banten. Amidst piles of plastic containers, trays, and packaging boxes, workers are busy preparing dough, sorting dates, and packaging products. From this room, various date-based products under the brand ‘Renaco’ are produced.
The journey of building Renaco has been filled with challenges. Lilia, 48, began her entrepreneurial journey through various food business experiments to support her family’s economy. After many trials, she identified a significant opportunity in chocolate-covered date products. Through mentoring, training, and marketing support from PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), this home-based business has grown and is now capable of generating millions of rupiah in monthly turnover.
Lilia shared that she had experimented with various foods since 2005 while searching for a focused business model. She eventually found success with chocolate-covered dates because the quality and flavour consistency are easier to maintain compared to other foods. The name ‘Renaco’ itself has a personal story, derived from her daughter’s name, Rena. Originally operating under ‘Rena Choco & Cake’, she rebranded to Renaco to make it more memorable and modern.
A major turning point occurred in 2022 when Lilia joined the Rumah BUMN Jakarta programme, managed by BRI. Through this initiative, she received training in bookkeeping, product photography, and digital marketing, allowing her business to become more professional and directed. Renaco subsequently joined the BRIncubator programme, where it was selected as one of the top 30 participants from thousands of MSMEs across Indonesia in 2024.
Lilia noted that Renaco’s selection was due to its business readiness and complete product legality, including PIRT (Home Industry Food) certification and Intellectual Property (HAKI) rights, with BPOM certification currently in progress. Beyond administration, the training helped Renaco master digital marketing strategies and social media content creation.
Participation in various exhibitions, such as the MSME Bazaar for Indonesia at Sarinah, Jakarta, has significantly boosted sales. Renaco’s market has even expanded internationally, with products showcased in Makkah by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and in Dubai alongside the Indonesian date farmer community. Currently, a large portion of Renaco’s revenue comes from resellers and business-to-business (B2B) partnerships, including large orders for Ramadan hampers from corporations and hotels. During the Ramadan period, turnover can surge to over IDR 100 million.