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Vol. 40, No. 3, 2026

Designing an Integrated Food Hub and Cold Chain Model to Optimize Raw Material Supply for the Free Nutritious Meal Program: A Case Study of 100 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in Three Regencies of Bali Province

Title

Designing an Integrated Food Hub and Cold Chain Model to Optimize Raw Material Supply for the Free Nutritious Meal Program: A Case Study of 100 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in Three Regencies of Bali Province

Author

Retno Widyani, Andri Hermawan, Bastoni

Abstract

The Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG), coordinated by Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency, requires a reliable, safe, and cost-efficient food supply system to support the operation of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs). However, the current decentralized procurement system exposes SPPGs to commodity price volatility, supply uncertainty, high food losses, and limited food safety control. This study aims to design and evaluate an integrated Food Hub and Cold Chain model for optimizing raw material procurement and distribution across 100 SPPGs operating in Buleleng, Gianyar, and Karangasem Regencies, Bali Province. A quantitative systems design approach was employed, using secondary data from 100 SPPGs, market price information, supplier capacity records, and regional logistics infrastructure. Demand forecasting, supply adequacy analysis, hub-and-spoke network design, cold-chain configuration, and economic feasibility assessment were conducted to evaluate the proposed model. The results indicate that the 100 SPPGs serve approximately 203,020 beneficiaries and require nearly 60 tons of food commodities per day. Existing supplier capacity is sufficient to meet aggregate demand; however, inefficiencies occur in procurement aggregation, storage, and distribution processes. The proposed Food Hub integrates centralized procurement, semi-processing facilities, temperature-controlled storage, and coordinated distribution. Economic analysis demonstrates that bulk purchasing and fewer intermediary transactions can lower procurement costs by 5–10%, while implementing cold chains can reduce food losses by 15–25%. Potential savings are estimated at IDR 10–20 million per SPPG per month, equivalent to IDR 1–2 billion per month across the system. Sensitivity analysis confirms the model's robustness to commodity price and demand fluctuations. The study concludes that the integrated Food Hub and Cold Chain model is technically feasible, economically viable, and scalable as a strategic infrastructure solution to strengthen the MBG program's sustainability, efficiency, and food safety performance. The proposed framework may serve as a replicable model for institutional feeding programs in other regions of Indonesia.

Keywords

Free Nutritious Meal Program; Logistics Optimization; Food Safety

Issue

Vol. 40, No. 3, 2026

References