VINANSIA.COM – Have you heard about the new face among Indonesia's richest? As a child, he once lived in a chicken coop! Let's dive into the success story of Hermanto Tanoko, Indonesia's number one paint entrepreneur who once called a chicken coop his home.

The list of the 50 richest people in Indonesia is constantly changing, with some new faces making their debut. One of these newcomers is Hermanto Tanoko, the owner of Avian Brands, a leading paint company in Indonesia.

According to Liputan6, Hermanto Tanoko, the heir to the Avian paint empire, boasts a fortune of $700 million USD, equivalent to approximately 9.8 trillion IDR.

The Avian paint business was founded by Sutikno Tanoko on November 1, 1978. Initially, the company's headquarters were merely a small paint shop in Surabaya, East Java.

Hermanto Tanoko's father, Sutikno, began his journey in the paint business by opening a paint store in Malang in 1962, renting a small space measuring just 1.5 meters by 13 meters.

Hermanto Tanoko, the youngest of five siblings, was born in September 1962 in Malang, East Java. During his childhood, his family was not well-off.

In the 1960s, his father faced financial difficulties, forcing them to live in a rented chicken coop measuring 1.5 meters by 9 meters.

In 1978, Sutikno officially took over a small paint factory in Sidoarjo, which had only 18 employees at the time. In 1982, Hermanto Tanoko joined the family business after managing a pharmacy in Malang.

Sutikno's vision was simple: he wanted Avian to become the number one paint company in Indonesia. Despite the factory's modest size and lack of a proper fence, Hermanto remained optimistic and dedicated to expanding the business.

Avian's growth was significant, with profits increasing annually. The company expanded its production facilities to include the manufacturing of resin (a key paint ingredient) in 1986, as well as additives, metal paint cans, and other raw materials. Today, Avian boasts 86 distribution branches serving 45,000 hardware stores, as reported by Investor.id.

The pinnacle of Avian's development was the establishment of the Avian Innovation Center in Sidoarjo on November 1, 2019. This research and development facility is the largest of its kind in ASEAN, reflecting Hermanto Tanoko's enduring spirit of innovation. Over 40 years, Avian has evolved from a home industry into a global company, competing with major players in the paint industry.

In addition to building the Avian brand, Hermanto Tanoko also established Tan Corp in 1983, a holding company that has grown rapidly. Tan Corp now oversees eight subsidiary companies in various sectors, including distribution, property, food and beverage, health and beauty, and retail.

One notable subsidiary is Tanobel Food, a consumer goods company that includes PT Sariguna Primatirta Tbk, the producer of Cleo bottled water, with Hermanto Tanoko serving as the primary commissioner.

Beyond his business endeavors, Hermanto Tanoko is also active in social and humanitarian efforts through the Hermanto Tanoko Foundation (HTF). This foundation was created to provide a platform for social activities as Hermanto reduces his business engagements.

His goal is to create one million entrepreneurs by offering training, mentorship, and sales facilities. HTF helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop their products, set prices, and manage finances. To date, HTF has supported seven entrepreneurs, with more expected to join.

That’s the success story of Hermanto Tanoko, the new face among Indonesia's tycoons and the man behind Avian paint. Feeling inspired today? Click the like button and don’t forget to watch other inspirational stories from Financial School.