Support from Rumah BUMN Baturaja, Bringing Deni Saputra’s Success Story from Selling “Ngupi Ku-Day” Coffee to Opening a Cafe in Baturaja

BATURAJA – PT Semen Baturaja Tbk (SMBR) as a subsidiary of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG) is committed to continuing to provide sustainable economic contributions to society through the MSME empowerment program. Like Deni Saputra, a coffee entrepreneur with the Ngupi Ku-day brand, who successfully realized his dream of building a cafe business thanks to assistance and coaching from Rumah BUMN Baturaja which is managed by SMBR.

Deni Saputra (Deni), a resident of Kemalaraja, East Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra, is a private employee who started the Ngupi Ku-day business in 2018 to maximize the yield of his 2 ha coffee plantation on Beringin Island, OKU Regency South, as well as providing benefits to the people around it by opening up job opportunities.

“I am very grateful to be able to join Rumah BUMN Baturaja which has helped market products and been included in exhibitions so that Ngupi Ku-day can be widely known and increase sales. Now my business has grown a lot. My coffee products have entered several hotels and cafes in Martapura and Palembang. My dream of having my own cafe has also come true. If you ask about turnover, on average I can earn up to IDR 50 million per month. “The conditions were very different when we first started building a business,” said Deni.

Deni tells the story of his difficult times when he first started his business. “My capital at that time was IDR 500 thousand and I didn’t have a roasting machine or coffee grinding machine. So I have to leave it to someone. Customers are still limited to friends and neighbors around the house, so I have to offer products door to door. “The income at that time was around IDR 100 thousand,” said Deni.

Luckily, in 2019, he received information about Rumah BUMN Baturaja from social media. With support from friends, Deni decided to join. At Rumah BUMN Baturaja, the business received assistance and marketing assistance, and was included in exhibitions. After every exhibition, Deni admits that there are customers who call to order coffee to the number listed on the product packaging. From there customers began to increase and turnover continued to increase.

According to Deni, what is attractive about his coffee products is the coffee beans. Ngupi Ku-day coffee is processed from coffee beans that are picked when they are already red (red pick), or that are perfectly ripe to produce the right and delicious taste of robusta type coffee, as well as a fragrant aroma.

“In 2020 I was finally able to buy a roasting machine and a coffee grinding machine. Because many people want to enjoy coffee directly on the spot, in 2023 I opened the Ngupi Ku-day cafe in Baturaja. To manage the cafe, I am assisted by 5 employees. Meanwhile, the management of the coffee plantation is assisted by 3 people. “My current total number of employees is 8 people,” said Deni.

Since officially operating, the Ngupi Ku-day cafe is open from 14.00 – 24.00 and at least 50 customers visit every day. Those who visit are on average aged 35 years and over who want to enjoy coffee in a homely atmosphere. Now, Ngupi Ku-day is collaborating with Rumah BUMN Baturaja to run an Environmentally Friendly Coffee Shop (eco coffee) program or drink coffee paid for with plastic waste as part of caring for the environment. Rumah BUMN Baturaja also provides assistance in making NIB (Business Identification Number), assistance with halal certification, marketing in the PaDi UMKM marketplace, as well as neon boxes or shop name signs.

“I didn’t expect that this neon box would have such a big influence because after it was installed, many people found out about it and visited it. Thank you Rumah BUMN Baturaja for the assistance and assistance that has been provided so far. “Hopefully it will continue to help MSMEs to progress,” concluded Deni.

SMBR Vice President of Corporate Secretary, Basthony Santri said, SMBR’s concern for the MSMEs it supports is proven through assistance and coaching through Rumah BUMN Baturaja, which continues to produce successful entrepreneurs who contribute to the regional economy and create jobs to support the government in reducing unemployment.

Deni Saputra is one of 261 MSMEs who received assistance and coaching at Rumah BUMN Baturaja, starting from assistance with the licensing process, halal certification, various training, to product packaging and marketing. Apart from that, Rumah BUMN Baturaja also facilitates MSMEs to participate in national to international exhibition events, such as the IBD Expo in 2018, the Lampung Fair which is held every year, and the ICPF in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in 2019.

“The involvement of MSMEs in various exhibitions aims to provide experience, increase competence, and expand the marketing reach of products so that they can not only be reached by local residents but also national and even go global,” said Basthony.(*)