Our Origins in Northern Sulawesi

Arenga Sugar Palms grow in South East Asia, and are particularly abundant in Indonesia where the wetter regions provide ideal growing conditions, especially at higher elevations. We started our operation in Manembo Village in the remote and fertile volcanic mountains of Northern Sulawesi, the traditional heartland of the Sugar Palm. Hence the business was named, C.V. Manembo Aren. Having visited and studied a socially-based Palm Sugar project, we were inspired to create our enterprise to connect small-scale tappers with export markets … seeing an opportunity to improve cooking efficiency, health, hygiene and forest livelihoods in the process. Working in landscapes which are prolific in mature Sugar Palms, we built a pilot factory in Manembo Village, and established a formal working relationship with a forestry co-operative in Gorontalo Province.
The journey started with an inspiring trip to the Sugar Palms around Tomohon in Northern Sulawesi

Our partnership with the forestry co-operative supports social benefits
and provides security of supply (see video)

We are proud to work with Ir. Djimlan Saleh who is a champion of sustainable agroforestry in Gorontalo

Manembo Aren Company
Our pilot factory was built and installed with equipment during 2016/ 17, and after a period of development and testing, the company was registered in Indonesia as C.V. Manembo Aren in October 2018. Halal certification was achieved in August 2019, and in October 2019 the company received its food hygiene certificate under the Indonesian Government BPOM system. EU organic certification was achieved in April 2021. Laboratory test results, which indicate the composition of our sugar, can be viewed by clicking on the ‘Kementerian Perindistrian’ laboratory logo below.
Hygiene certificate
Laboratory tests
Halal certificate
Organic EU
The Team

Jeff Kersey
CEO & Founder
Jeff is an international consultant with 20 years experience in sustainable design. He has had close links to Indonesia since 1990, and has long been inspired by the role of agroforestry in rural sustainable development.

Hanni Theresia
Operations Director
An Indonesian retail sales expert, Hanni has an extensive retail sales distribution network in Indonesia. Based in Jakarta, she is energetically pursuing sales opportunities whilst interfacing closely with the forest cooperative.

Florian Vernaz
Sustainable Business Advisor
Florian’s work is focused mainly on sustainable landscape planning, in particular business planning for Forest Management Units. His experience includes promoting public-private partnerships to support green investment.

Annawati Van Paddenburg
Sustainable Business Advisor
Born in Papua New Guinea and raised in remote Indonesian villages, Anna is a sustainable finance, climate and environment professional with almost two decades of experience in green growth and international development.