The Carnic Company of Sancti Spíritus has launched its first retail store operating in national currency, featuring beef byproducts with purchasing restrictions aimed at curbing resale, as reported by the official newspaper, Escambray, on Sunday.
Located near the company's headquarters, the store operates from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Payments are exclusively made via electronic transfer, while Saturdays are reserved for sales to the company's employees.
According to Lianet González, the deputy director of the company, the store's opening became feasible due to 176 economic and social reforms driven by the government, which allow state-owned enterprises to establish their own retail outlets.
"This has always been a dream of the company's management, and it was challenging to achieve because it wasn't part of our social objective," stated González.
Direct Sales and Consumer Benefits
González highlighted that direct sales help lower prices by shortening the distribution chain. The store offers beef tendon, red bone, and other edible byproducts previously used as inputs for canned meats or distributed through other commercial networks.
Among the available products is beef tendon in vacuum-sealed, shrink-wrapped packages of two kilograms, priced between 850 and 900 Cuban pesos.
Donis Gómez Salas, the company's director, explained that these products are derived from the utilization of beef cattle slaughter byproducts, which previously did not always reach consumers directly.
Purchase Limits to Prevent Resale
To prevent hoarding and resale, the company has set a limit of two units per product type. González stated that this regulation aims to ensure a broader customer base can access the offerings and purchase various goods.
Initial customers appreciated the pricing. A retiree mentioned that the products were more affordable than in other stores and noted the advantage of buying two instead of one to better manage her weekly budget, as highlighted by the press.
Future Expansion and Online Presence
The company plans to gradually include traditional sausages and pet food, also priced economically according to its directors. Simultaneously, they have opened an online store in dollars in Sancti Spíritus and are collaborating with Cimex to launch three more currency-based stores, one at the Garaita Market in the provincial capital, another in La Amistad (Trinidad), and a third in El Álamo (Cabaiguán).
The store is part of a wave of state-run commercial initiatives promoted by the government in recent months, including neighborhood markets that have faced criticism in provinces like Ciego de Ávila for offering prices deemed unaffordable by consumers.
Since July, the minimum monthly wage in Cuba is 3,210 Cuban pesos. According to economist Javier Pérez Capdevila, an individual needs approximately 96,000 pesos monthly to meet basic needs, nearly 30 times the minimum wage. A single two-kilogram package of beef tendon represents 26% to 28% of the minimum monthly salary.
Understanding the New Retail Store in Sancti Spíritus
What products does the new store in Sancti Spíritus offer?
The store offers beef byproducts such as beef tendon and red bone, which are available in vacuum-sealed packages.
Why is there a purchase limit in the store?
The purchase limit of two units per product type is to prevent hoarding and resale, ensuring more consumers have access to the products.
How does the new store impact consumer prices?
Direct sales at the store help reduce prices by shortening the distribution chain, making products more affordable for consumers.