Innovation

Marugame Udon’s innovation is not a single product or campaign but a systematic integration of sustainability into everyday operations, transforming social and environmental goals into routine business practices that create value for employees, suppliers, customers, and communities. By embedding responsible practices into every aspect of its operations, the company ensures that growth and social impact go hand in hand.

Economically, the regular opening of new outlets generates stable entry-level and career opportunities for university and high-school graduates, supporting local livelihoods and helping reduce poverty through predictable employment and wages, advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Educationally, structured internal training, on-the-job learning, and MBA scholarship programs provide staff with limited formal education opportunities to advance professionally, while executive education initiatives foster continuous development across roles from kitchen crew to management, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education).

The company actively promotes gender equality in leadership, as seen in recent female area manager appointments, demonstrating its commitment to inclusive career pathways and contributing to SDG 5 (Gender Equality). In terms of responsible consumption, Marugame Udon transitioned from plastic to paper-based takeaway packaging in 2021 and is piloting biodegradable PHA spoons made from recycled cooking oil in collaboration with a Japanese partner, reflecting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Finally, long-term collaborations with local farmers, such as chili and green onion producers in Sukabumi, ensure fair pricing and responsible land use, while partnerships with chicken farmers in Yogyakarta support cage-free egg production, promoting ethical supply chains and strengthened community ties in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Together, these initiatives illustrate a business model where sustainability guides growth decisions and daily operations, enabling commercial expansion while strengthening people, ecosystems, and supply chains.

Inspiration

According to Mr. Andrias, the guiding principle behind Marugame Udon’s approach is “growth with integrity.” He explained, “We didn’t start with a big sustainability plan; it grew naturally from our values. We realized our responsibility to educate our people, care for our suppliers, and protect our environment while running a profitable business.”

As the company expanded, this philosophy evolved into concrete practices. Management invested in staff training and scholarships, developed partnerships with suppliers that reward responsible farming and animal welfare, and piloted innovative packaging solutions to reduce waste. These measures were not isolated PR campaigns but operational choices that shaped hiring, procurement, menu design, and store rollout. Over time, Marugame observed tangible benefits: improved employee retention and engagement, stronger supplier trust, and enhanced customer loyalty driven by ethical and sustainable practices.

Overall impact

Marugame Udon’s initiatives produce measurable benefits across multiple dimensions, demonstrating how sustainability can be embedded into everyday business operations. Economically, the regular opening of new stores generates hundreds of stable jobs each year, supporting household incomes and local livelihoods, advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty). Educationally, dozens of employees have gained scholarships and completed structured in-house training programs, enhancing their skills and creating clear career pathways in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Socially, the company has increased female representation in management and implemented equitable hiring practices, fostering greater inclusion and empowerment in a sector that has traditionally been male-dominated, reflecting SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Environmentally, Marugame Udon has substantially reduced plastic usage, replacing more than 70 percent of disposable items with paper-based and biodegradable alternatives, showing strong commitment to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Long-term partnerships with local farmers in Sukabumi and Yogyakarta provide reliable demand, fair pricing, and guidance on sustainable farming practices, strengthening ethical supply chains and collaborative partnerships, which aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Together, these initiatives illustrate that integrating sustainability into daily operations not only reinforces business resilience and reputation but also delivers measurable value to employees, communities, and local ecosystems, fully reflecting the story’s selected SDGs.

Business benefit

Marugame’s sustainability-driven approach has strengthened its brand as a trusted, ethical, and quality-focused restaurant chain. By embedding these practices into everyday operations, the company has achieved multiple business benefits.

Transparent sourcing and strict food safety standards build customer trust, encouraging repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth. Career development, training, and scholarship programs improve employee skills, motivation, and retention, enhancing service quality. Local sourcing reduces supply chain risks and logistics costs, while the transition away from single-use plastics lowers material and disposal expenses.

Visible sustainability commitments also differentiate Marugame as a brand in Indonesia’s competitive F&B market, appealing to increasingly values-driven consumers. By managing social and environmental risks and investing in people and partners, the company builds a resilient foundation for long-term growth.

Social and environmental benefit

Marugame Udon’s initiatives create measurable benefits that align closely with its selected SDGs. By providing stable employment and career pathways for youth and undereducated workers, the company advances SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Through structured training programs, on-the-job learning, and scholarships, employees gain skills and opportunities for professional development, directly supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education).

The company’s commitment to gender equality is reflected in the promotion of women into managerial roles and inclusive hiring practices, addressing SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Its environmental innovations, including transitioning from single-use plastics to paper-based and biodegradable alternatives, underscore the company’s primary focus on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), reducing waste and promoting sustainable operational practices.

Finally, Marugame Udon strengthens local communities and supply chains through partnerships with farmers and suppliers that reward ethical practices, biodiversity-friendly farming, and responsible sourcing, advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). While other outcomes, such as improved health and ecological restoration, naturally arise from these practices, the company’s primary social and environmental impacts consistently reinforce its commitment to these selected SDGs.

Through these integrated efforts, Marugame Udon demonstrates that a restaurant chain can grow sustainably, deliver value to employees and communities, and maintain ethical and environmentally responsible operations, all while embedding SDG 12 as a guiding principle.

Interview

Andrias Chandra, Director