Wine cellar to be the toast of Pantry Gourmet Stores

All convenience stores are not created equal, glaringly evident in the plush surroundings and ample product range available at the Pantry.

No stale day-old sandwiches and rusty canned goods cram the neatly arranged shelves of the Pantry, part of the chain based in Osaka, Japan, which has rightfully earned the title of "gourmet" store.

Instead, its counters and displays groan under the weight of trusted brand-name products from the U.S., Australia, Europe and Japan.

"Our goods are 80 percent imported and 20 percent local," says Pantry Gourmet Director Suryadi Jaya Effendi. "We concentrate on ensuring that our products conform to the highest standards for our valued customers."

Care also went into choosing the locations of the company's six convenience stores in strategic areas around Jakarta. All are located within the security and comfort of apartment complexes -- the Kempinski, Batavia and Plaza Senayan apartments in central Jakarta, along with the Griya Prapanca and Permata Gandaria in South Jakarta.

The store at the Kempinski, currently a temporary facility, promises to make a winning impression with its full opening as a supermarket in December of this year.

Pride of place will be its state-of-the-art wine cellar, a first for an Indonesian store.

Suryadi Jaya says connoisseurs of a fine vintage will no longer have to put in orders with friends traveling abroad or wait for their next trip to Singapore to stock up.

"A lot of thought and planning has gone into getting the wine cellar just right," Suryadi says as he displays the comprehensive plans for the supermarket, which will include a coffee shop where shoppers can rest and relax.

"We will offer a full range of wines from around the world and the temperature in the cellar will be strictly regulated. We will also try to keep prices as close to duty-free prices as possible."

"We have three considerations for our corporate value," says Suryadi. "We seek excellent service through professional management, the delivery of high-quality gourmet food and the provision of warm hospitality in a tasteful shopping ambiance.

"Our staff are trained to learn the names of our customers, to take care of them from the first moment they enter our stores. We learn their likes and dislikes, and our staff are knowledgeable about our products. They can offer advice as needed."

The Pantry also offers its Pantry Privilege Member program, which can translate into hefty discounts on products. Regular member gatherings are held, such as a recent wine-tasting evening. A delivery service for members is also available in Greater Jakarta.

"It is our way of showing our appreciation of our customers," Suryadi says. "It is also a way for them to network and to become aware of our new products on offer, such as what will be available at our wine cellar." Bruce Emond