Trade Minister urges Bulog to supply 5kg rice stocks to modern retail

The Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, is encouraging Perum Bulog to strengthen the supply of rice to modern retail networks following the scarcity of 5kg packaged rice in several retail outlets.

Budi stated that Bulog’s rice production, including both premium and medium-grade varieties, is currently being directed into modern retail networks. “Bulog now has premium rice available. I believe it has already begun entering retail, specifically under the name Befood,” Budi said at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to Budi, Bulog’s medium-grade rice will also be supplied to modern retail, providing the public with more options for purchasing rice.

Budi emphasised that the Ministry of Trade continues to coordinate with Bulog and retail associations to ensure rice supplies enter sales networks, including minimarkets and modern retail chains. “We are continuously coordinating so that Bulog can supply to Aprindo and Hippindo, through their respective associations, in both minimarkets and modern retail,” Budi explained.

He added that strengthening these supplies is intended to ensure Bulog’s rice products are available across retail networks to help meet public needs. “Therefore, we are pushing for those products to be replenished by Bulog,” he added.

Budi also explained that the Indonesian Retail Merchants Association (Aprindo) essentially plays the role of the party selling products within the retail network. Consequently, the government is encouraging Bulog’s supplies to be distributed through these retail networks via coordination with the association.

This step is expected to expand the availability of Bulog rice in modern retail while ensuring that the public can continue to access rice easily.