‘Pooniey’ Vegetable Cookies: A Healthy Snack Created by IPB University Students
Three female students from the Department of Agribusiness at IPB University have introduced a healthy snack innovation called Pooniey. This product is a dry biscuit that combines the deliciousness of modern snacks with the nutritional benefits of vegetables such as carrots and spinach.
Pooniey’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karimah ‘Asma, explained that the product’s development stemmed from concerns about the low vegetable consumption in Indonesia. There is a gap between the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the reality on the ground.
Karimah noted that the WHO recommends a minimum vegetable intake of 400 grams per day for individuals over 10 years of age. Meanwhile, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that vegetable consumption in Indonesia is only 115 grams per day.
“From this, we identified a significant gap between actual consumption and the recommended intake. The reasons are varied. Children and teenagers perceive vegetables as less tasty due to their texture and flavor,” explained Karimah.
Based on these facts, Karimah and two other agribusiness students innovated by developing vegetable based crackers. Initially, Pooniey was designed specifically for babies, with the crackers shaped like spoons to attract their attention. However, Pooniey is now available in a familiar round shape and is no longer marketed exclusively to babies due to concerns about its sugar content.
“Pooniey is a snack in the form of a dry cookie. What sets it apart from other cookies is that Pooniey contains vegetable based ingredients like carrots and spinach,” said Karimah.
She explained that Pooniey is targeted at children over the age of 5, teenagers, and adults who dislike vegetables due to their bitter taste. Pooniey offers a different way to enjoy vegetables.
Pooniey’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Sabrina Putri, added that Pooniey has been on the market for two months, reaching consumers both offline and online through Instagram, TikTok, and Shopee.
During the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday, the team successfully sold approximately 22 jars of chocolate and cheese varieties, receiving positive feedback from customers. The chocolate variety is priced at Rp24.500 per jar, and the cheese variety at Rp20.500 per jar.
Pooniey continues to be developed by three Agribusiness students from IPB University and is currently participating in the Student Entrepreneurship Program (PMW). In addition to Karimah and Sabrina, another figure behind Pooniey is Sustika Ayu, who serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO). (MHT) (IAAS/EPK)
