Jakarta West Bakso Catering Business Thrives with Celebrity Patronage

Profesor Bakso is a Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi (Jabodetabek) bakso catering business that has gained popularity among celebrities. The kitchen of Profesor Bakso is located on Abdul Rahman Lane, Sukabumi Utara, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. The fragrant aroma of bakso broth filled the kitchen of Putri and Hendra’s business this morning. The MSME offers bakso catering, ready-to-eat bakso, frozen bakso, and stalls for events ranging from small to large-scale. This home-style bakso catering began in 2020. ‘We’ve been around for a while, but we specifically focused on bakso catering in 2020. Before that, we ran general bakso warungs,’ Hendra said when interviewed. Putri and Hendra have operated the bakso catering for around six years. Through consistency and diligence, the business has gained popularity among Jakarta celebrities, starting with social media promotion by Profesor Bakso. ‘Everything came through social media. We built our presence there. Alhamdulillah, perhaps they were drawn to our social media content and reached out,’ Hendra said. ‘They have events or want to host them. They search on social media, see our page, try us out—that’s how it started. After trying, word of mouth took over,’ he added. Hendra emphasised the importance of taste quality before reaching customers’ palates, along with punctuality and trustworthiness to ensure satisfaction. ‘Quality of taste comes first, then consistency, punctuality, and reliability. If we deliver these, word of mouth follows. Celebrities get to know us through recommendations—they’re invited, try it, then order,’ he explained. The bakso catering is sold at Rp 25,000 per portion. Profesor Bakso sells approximately 4,000 portions monthly. ‘Each portion is Rp 25,000, and we sell around 4,000 portions a month,’ Hendra stated. Joining BRI’s Rumah BUMN In 2022, Profesor Bakso became acquainted with Rumah BUMN Jakarta, a BRI-managed MSME development programme designed to elevate businesses. The partnership began with orders placed through the initiative. ‘We only joined Rumah BUMN after the pandemic, around 2022,’ Hendra said. ‘After the pandemic, Rumah BUMN provided us with numerous orders. The government began prioritising UMKMs for procurement rather than large enterprises. They compiled a list of UMKMs to be mentored,’ Hendra explained. Hendra noted Profesor Bakso has participated in several large-scale events. This support has boosted the business’s confidence. ‘It’s been a huge help—we’ve gained confidence in promoting our products without having to pay for it. Alhamdulillah, that’s how it is,’ he said. Hendra recalled a recent year-end event at JIExpo Kemayoran, where Profesor Bakso sold 1,000 portions over two days. At BRI’s Rumah BUMN, MSMEs receive scheduled training, but the initiative also facilitates specific training needs by inviting competent speakers. ‘They have a set schedule but are open to requests, as the team is young and driven,’ Hendra added. Rumah BUMN also assists MSMEs with product photography, video creation, and promotion, which Hendra said is invaluable. ‘They help with photos, videos, and sales facilitation—like inviting us to events. Other promotions require payment, but Rumah BUMN’s services are free,’ he said. A Platform for MSME Growth Rumah BUMN Jakarta supports MSME growth through mentorship, training, funding access, and market expansion. All training for mentored MSMEs is free. Jajang Rohmana, coordinator of Rumah BUMN Jakarta, stated BRI manages 54 Rumah BUMN as collaborative platforms to build a digital MSME ecosystem, enhancing business capacity and capability. With BRI, MSMEs not only grow but also transform into self-sustaining digital economies. ‘At Rumah BUMN, business owners and MSMEs receive training to sharpen entrepreneurial skills, digital mentoring, and access to funding and market networks,’ Jajang Rohmana said. Jajang added that Rumah BUMN Jakarta supports MSMEs in scaling up. ‘Every smile from a successfully upgraded MSME is energy for us,’ he said.