Roni Arianto Widodo, an alumni of the Department of Food Technology and Agricultural Products (TPHP) from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) 1991 graduate, began his career without any business background from his family. However, he possessed a spirit of innovation and a desire to improve his family’s well-being.
“I wanted to leave my job as a laborer and find new opportunities to build a better future,” he said.
Roni chose to create seasoned flour because fried foods are immensely popular and require minimal public promotion. For six years, he focused solely on producing seasoned flour. However, by the tenth year, Roni began innovating and expanding his product line.
Roni’s success is largely due to his ability to understand customer needs. He realized that many of his customers owned chicken eateries, prompting him to develop marinade seasonings as one of his product innovations. Additionally, he created gluten-free flour and chili oil to meet market demand.
Roni doesn’t strive on his own.; he founded his business with three other TPHP FTP 1991 graduates. Although his company is still considered a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME), Roni can produce up to 13-14 tons per year with 11 employees. In the early days, Roni and his wife handled production themselves, with his wife promoting the product at markets. Today, Tepung Bumbu Rizqiyya’s furthest market reaches Aceh, although its largest market remains in Jogja.
As a gesture of appreciation for his employees, Roni sponsors an annual pilgrimage to the holy land for umrah. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as Roni has created decent jobs for his employees. Moreover, Roni emphasizes social entrepreneurship principles in running his business.
Roni Arianto Widodo’s story inspires people that success can be achieved even without a solid business background. With innovation, perseverance, and a keen understanding of market needs, Roni has built his business into an inspiration for others.
[Alumni Office: Kamila, Translated: Aldiza, Photo: UGM Channel]