Garudafood boss wins E&Y business award

Sudhamek AWS, president of food product giant Garudafood Group, has been named Indonesian Entrepreneur of 2004 by international consultancy Ernst & Young.

Sudhamek was selected from among 15 successful businessmen by a panel of independent judges, Ernst & Young said on Thursday in a press release.

Garudafood began as a tapioca flour producer based in Pati, Central Java, and began to focus on peanut products in 1987.

Sudhamek, the youngest son of the firm's founder, Darmo Putro, joined the firm in 1994 and under his leadership, Garudafood steadily improved its performance. Today, its Kacang Garuda controls 65 percent of the nation's peanut snacks market.

The panel of judges, chaired by Noke Kiroyan, president director of Rio Tinto Indonesia, also granted several other entrepreneurship awards of 2004: The Lifetime Achievement went to Mochtar Riyadi of Lippo Group; Industry and Manufacturing to Setyono Djuandi Darmono of PT Jababeka Tbk; Services to Rudi Wanandi of PT Asuransi Wahana Tata; Entrepreneurial Spirit to Saripin Taidy of PT Probesco Disatama; and Inspirational Leadership went to Moetaryanto of Petrolog Group.

Sudhamek will represent Indonesia against 40 Entrepreneurs of the Year from various countries for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year competition, to be held in May 2005 in Monte Carlo. -- JP