Project News

The Mutiara Airport in Palu City which connects regions in Sulawesi Island and the major metropolises of Indonesia, with one million passengers a year, was renovated in April 2014. The scale and function of the airport were expanded in expectation of further economic growth of Palu City.

The two-story airport building has provided space for tenant such as for restaurants, coffee shops and souvenir shops. Target group of local chocolate producers, the Association of Celebes Chocolate Producers (APECC), succeeded to obtain their outlet at first floor in departure lobby, owing to the facilitation support of Provincial Dinas for Industry & Trade and special attention by the airport management to the local specialty products. The chocolate shop featuring on the locally processed chocolate, named "Souklat" (House of Chocolate in local term), is expected to commemorate the opening day in the coming October.

The chocolate producers have so far developed the sales channel with souvenir shops and supermarkets in the city but on a consignment basis, and promoted through exhibitions. Accordingly, this outlet is the very first and permanent channel to sell the consumers directly. While receiving the advice by the provincial Dinas, 9 member producers are discussing and preparing for the store open; interior design, staff recruit and training, store operating procedure and PR activities. Through such store operation at the airport and continuous promotion effort, the LWG expects the target producers to acquire more solid channel to modern segment consumers and stable basis for sales.

Space for the chocolate shop at airport

Preparation meeting of chocolate producers