HISTORY OF DJARUM

HISTORY OF DJARUM

 

With over half a century of history behind it, Djarum has come a long way from its quiet beginnings on the streets of Kudus. Today Djarum has become a familiar icon in Indonesia thanks to our popular clove-and-tobacco cigarette products, which are familiar all over the archipelago. We are one of the largest cigarette manufacturers in Indonesia and have also established a strong international presence, providing satisfaction to customers daily.

Despite our success, Djarum remains firmly rooted in its hometown of Kudus. These roots help us to remember where we came from, and to keep in mind our obligations to society. As we have grown, so have our abilities to contribute: where once we helped the community of Kudus, today our corporate social 
initiatives programs have a national focus and a global outlook. 
jarum′s first-ever kretek workshop was established on April 21, 1951 by company founder Oei Wie Gwan in Kudus, Central Java. Just nine months prior, Oei Wie Gwan had purchased the brand and license to the name. Kudus happens to be the birthplace of kretek, upon which one of Indonesia′s most prominent industries would be built. Over the years, Djarum’s small cottage industry would flourish into an internationally known brand.

Named after the needle of a gramophone, Djarum began as a small 10-person operation on No. 28 Bitingan Baru Street (now No. 28 A.Yani Street), Kudus. The blending of the clove and tobacco ingredients was a simple manual process using minimal equipment. Oei himself could be found rolling kretek on the workshop floor when not promoting and selling Djarum kretek on the streets of Kudus. Djarum′s blend of hand-rolled kretek nonetheless differentiated itself by its consistent quality and taste and attracted a growing following.

Oei Wie Gwan passed away in 1963 but the company he built endures. Under the leadership and vision of Oei′s two sons Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono, Djarum continued to thrive, expanding into one of the largest and most successful kretek company today.