Sriboga Marugame Indonesia opens 4 delivery outlets

The Indonesian operator of Japanese noodle restaurant chain Marugame Udon has launched four delivery outlets in the Southeast Asian country in its struggle to tide over the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak.

PT. Sriboga Marugame Indonesia has opened the delivery shops in and around Jakarta amid restrictions on economic activities, aiming to mitigate the impact of a fall in sales, Hajime Kondo, the company's director.

The local company, which is endorsed to operate in Indonesia under the Marugame Udon brand by Japanese dining service group Toridoll Holdings Corp., initially planned to open only one delivery shop but has increased the number.

As a result of the virus outbreak, the proportion of delivery sales has soared to as high as 86 percent of total revenue, Kondo said in an interview with NNA on June 20.

Starting this month, the local firm plans to sell home-cooking items such as frozen hotpot noodle packages online to diversify its sales channels, Kondo said.

"It is a high risk that we solely rely on our existing operation amid uncertainties over the novel coronavirus (outbreak)," he said.

The Indonesian unit also intends to open small restaurants with lower-priced menu items, eyeing store openings in such locations as inside railway stations and service areas on toll roads, Kondo said.

With about 70 restaurants currently in operation in Indonesia, the company pays close attention to social distancing to ensure a safe hygiene environment.

Credit: The Mainichi