Garudafood boss wins E&Y business award

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