Many F&B Businesses Fail While Aggressively Expanding: Here Are the Causes

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Growth of food and beverage (F&B) and retail businesses is not yet fully matched by companies’ operational readiness. Amid expanding store networks, many business players face challenges in managing transactions, stock, and financial reporting that are not yet integrated.

Bank Indonesia data show retail sales growing 6.5 percent year-on-year in March 2026. Meanwhile, the F&B category grew 8.5 percent for eight consecutive months by the end of last year.

However, amid this growth, some operators are said to face operational issues as businesses begin expanding to many outlets.

This condition prompted SaaS provider Mekari to launch a point-of-sales (POS) service for the F&B and retail sectors.

Mekari CEO Suwandi Soh said many businesses suffer when expansion accelerates due to operational management not being integrated.

“Many great businesses in Indonesia stall at the second or third outlet, not because they run out of customers, but because they lose control of their own data,” Suwandi said in a statement on Friday (22/5/2026).

He said the POS system today is no longer just a cash register, but a real-time hub for operational control of the business.

Mekari said the service enables owners to monitor the performance of all outlets through a single dashboard, including stock management, transactions, and financial reporting.

Furthermore, the system is integrated with accounting, workforce management, and taxation within the company’s digital ecosystem.

The company regards operational integration as a crucial factor for businesses seeking sustainable expansion of their networks, especially in the F&B and retail sectors with high daily transaction volumes.