JAKARTA, June 13th, 2024 – The Halal Center of the Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo (Umsida) has once again been entrusted by PT Cipta Aneka Selera (PT CAS) to handle halal certification for their restaurants and outlets. On Wednesday (12/06/2024), the Halal Center Umsida received a visit from the PT CAS team in the GKB 1 meeting room at Umsida.
Both entities aimed to continue their long-standing collaboration in providing halal certification for PT CAS’s restaurants and outlets in East Java, which are estimated to reach 99 outlets and 50 restaurants.
PT CAS is a food and beverage (F&B) company that has been implementing a multi-brand concept since 2011. Previously, Halal Center Umsida had been trusted by PT CAS to assist with halal product certification. In the future, there are two brands that will be proposed for halal certification, namely Yasaka and C’BEZT.
“We do want to sell halal products. We don’t just want to have a halal certificate in the office, but also in restaurants and outlets. Our restaurants are spread from Medan to Makassar, so we hope Umsida can assist us in the Java region, especially East Java,” said Esti Rosiyati, Head of PT CAS.
Furthermore, Esti also hopes that Umsida can assist PT CAS in obtaining halal certificates for products, restaurants, ingredients, as well as packaging. PT CAS is also planning to add more products to be halal certified.
“We will learn a lot from Umsida, especially since we don’t have an internal unit for that yet. After assisting us last year, PT CAS has the confidence in Umsida to audit our outlets,” explained Esti.
The First Company Assisted by Halal Center Umsida
Halal Center Umsida ventured into assisting large companies for the first time by partnering with PT CAS. Umsida previously focused on helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with halal certification. The collaboration began when PT CAS’s HR department, upon recommendation from a relative, contacted Umsida for assistance with their product halal certification process, which commenced in May 2023 and lasted for about a year.
“We have always been involved in SMEs; we have never handled large companies. They said that they are a subsidiary of PT Japfa. After we came there, it turned out that they are one of the largest frozen food product suppliers in Indonesia,” said Puspita Handayani SAg MPdI, head of Halal Center Umsida.
Following the successful product halal certification assistance, the Umsida Halal Center team was once again entrusted to guide PT CAS through the restaurant halal certification process. However, upon further discussion, it was discovered that some of the food ingredients remained uncertified. Consequently, Puspita recommended that PT CAS prioritize the certification of their production materials before proceeding with the restaurant certification.
Drawing from their year-long experience assisting PT CAS, Puspita Handayani SAg MPdI, a lecturer in the Management study program, shed light on the intricacies of halal certification, emphasizing that the process is indeed time-consuming due to the comprehensive requirements involved.
“The pace of entrepreneurs in taking care of certification files also affects the issuance of halal permits. And we really assist, not instant halal brokers who are instantly certified. Therefore, it takes a long time,” elaborated Puspita.
To facilitate this process, Umsida deploys university students through an internship program to assist in compiling these documents. This arrangement benefits both parties: companies receive support and gain a deeper understanding of halal certification procedures, while Umsida acquires new knowledge and insights to share with entrepreneurs.
Having successfully assisted a large corporation for the first time, the Umsida Halal Center now aims to expand its reach by providing halal certification guidance to both large companies and SMEs.
“The two types of businesses are very different,” Puspita added. “In our experience, SMEs require more guidance due to their diverse backgrounds, especially those who are not yet tech-savvy. On the other hand, large companies have a broader scope and their own teams. So, our role is primarily to provide direction and consultation.”
Following this discussion, the Umsida Halal Center has gained the trust of PT CAS to handle their halal certifications across Indonesia. However, due to the geographical scope limitations imposed by the Indonesian Halal Product Assessment and Thayyib Halal Study Institution (LPH-KHT PP) Muhammadiyah, Umsida will focus on assisting PT CAS’s restaurants and outlets in Java, particularly East Java.
“Our primary focus is public trust,” emphasized Puspita. “This collaboration with PT CAS and its positive reception is a step in the right direction. We hope to establish a strong reputation and expand our reach to educate the public about the significance of halal certification, which goes beyond just a logo.”
In addition to PT CAS, the Umsida Halal Center is currently assisting two hospitals, RS Siti Khodijah Sepanjang and RS Fatimah Tulangan, in obtaining halal certification.
