Nestle Indonesia gives facelift to Mayestik market

JAKARTA (JP): PT. Nestle Indonesia, a major milk and food producer, inaugurated the completion of its two-month refurbishment project at Mayestik traditional market in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

The three-story market building, which beforehand was covered in dirt and peeling paint like many other traditional markets across the country, has been given a new coat of paint in the red-and-yellow colors of Nestle's Maggi product range.

Many of the Mayestik vendors and visitors hailed Nestle's effort.

"I rarely shop here but I can tell you that the place is much cleaner now," said Hidayat, a housewife from Central Jakarta.

Warsini, a food vendor at the market, which is usually heavily packed with visitors and traders, said: "After the beautification, this place looks much nicer."

The project, jointly conducted with the city's market management firm PD Pasar Jaya, included the installation of site maps and signs to help customers find the things they want.

However, Nestle refused to disclose the amount of money spent on the refurbishment of Mayestik market.

"Money is no matter when it comes to customers," boasted the company's vice president for marketing, Marc Teyssier, who represented Nestle at the inauguration.

The refurbishment works were carried out during night hours.

"It didn't bother us at all. Suddenly, everything was just repainted," vendor Warsini said.

According to Teyssier, Nestle has plans to conduct similar projects at other markets in Jakarta, particularly those selling food products.

He said the project was designed to help uplift the poor image of markets in the capital, which are often disparagingly referred to as "wet markets".

"We hope that based on the success of this project, PD Pasar Jaya will continue cooperating with us," Teyssier said.

Pasar Jaya's business director, Alaudin Tundru, said: "We think the project is a success and we are satisfied with the results."

Teyssier said the refurbishment project is part of Nestle's marketing plan to attract consumers for its Maggi products.

"We have conducted similar projects in other countries but the Majestik market is the only one that underwent a total change in its appearance," Teyssier said.

The inauguration of the post-facelift market was followed by a series of promotion activities for Maggi's latest products.

Jakarta is home to 153 traditional markets, most of which are in poor condition and unhygienic.(03)