Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) officially inaugurated GMart, a modern retail outlet located at the Innovation and Creativity Hub (GIK UGM) complex on Monday (Oct. 13). The outlet is expected to serve as a space for education, innovation, and collaboration, reinforcing UGM’s entrepreneurial and learning ecosystem.
The inauguration ceremony featured a symbolic tumpeng-cutting led by Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, accompanied by Commissioner of PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, Budi Setiadi, Chair of the UGM Foundation and Professor at the Faculty of Law, Professor Paripurna Sugarda, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Professor Gugup Kismono, Director of PT Gama Inovasi Berdikari, Ridha Nurul Azizah, and President Director of GIK, Alfatika Aunuriella Dini.
Dr. Hadmoko stated that the establishment of GMart at GIK UGM is a result of a strategic collaboration between UGM (through the UGM Foundation) and PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, the parent company of Alfamart, in pursuit of social and humanitarian missions, particularly in higher education.
“The Foundation has greatly supported UGM by providing funding for educational, research, and community service needs,” said Dr. Hadmoko.
He emphasized that this collaboration is highly strategic, considering UGM’s extensive academic resources and research capacity.
“UGM has 20 faculties and numerous researchers producing various innovations. It is worth noting that we also own PT Pagilaran, making UGM the only university in Indonesia that manages a tea plantation and produces one of the country’s best teas,” he explained.
According to Dr. Hadmoko, Alfamart has been a pioneer in retail industry innovation, and its expertise can be shared with students.
“We hope GMart can accommodate and promote innovative products developed within UGM,” he added.
Budi Setiadi, Commissioner of PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, welcomed this collaboration, noting that GMart not only functions as a shopping outlet but also as an educational platform for students.
“Nowadays, job creation goes beyond the formal sector. So, when students are interested in learning about entrepreneurship, Alfamart is very open to providing sessions, whether in Jakarta or here at UGM, by bringing in experts to teach about retail management,” Setiadi explained.
GMart was inaugurated as an educational and collaborative retail outlet, functioning as a business laboratory for UGM students. Located within the GIK UGM complex, this is the sixth GMart outlet, following those established in several strategic locations such as train stations, airports, and residential areas. Among GMart’s distinctive features are its selection of Gamafood products and its role as a learning hub for students.
Additionally, the Alfamart team will serve as mentors in GIK Glow (GIK Learning & Opportunity Workshop), a thematic workshop series developed by GIK as a collaborative learning program.
GMart also showcases products from Gamafood and Swajasa, created by the UGM Center for Agrotechnology Innovation (PIAT), including healthy chili sauces made from squid, anchovies, and tuna; nutritious cookies; and herbal beverages such as wedang uwuh (a Javanese spices-based drink), ginger, butterfly pea, and lemongrass teas.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian