Knorr upbeat on RI's market

JAKARTA (JP): American food manufacturer PT Knorr Indonesia remains confident about Indonesia's big consumer market despite the crisis.

The company's president, Peter N.M. Smith, said yesterday the market for consumer products remained strong, especially products for middle-class and upper-class Indonesians.

Knorr Indonesia, set up in 1992, produces and distributes about 50 products under four different brands in Indonesia, including Knorr bouillon cubes, soups and seasonings, Best Food mayonnaise and pourable dressings, Skippy peanut butter and Mazola corn oil.

"Basically, we target our products for the middle and upper- class Indonesians," he said.

He said Knorr Indonesia is a joint venture between Best Foods, an American multinational consumer food company with 95 percent share ownership, and an Indonesian person, who has the remaining 5 percent.

Peter said that the company has a manufacturing plant in Purwakarta to produce bouillon cubes, packet soups, instant rice porridge in cups, seasoning powder, seasoned flours, mayonnaise and pourable dressings under the Knorr and Best Foods brands. (aly)