A Management Success - The Butcher Shops without Flies

A Management Success: The Butcher Shops without Flies / 14ymedio, Victor
Ariel Gonzalez
Posted on November 7, 2014

14ymedio, Victor Ariel Gonzalez, Havana / 6 November 2014 — It's ten in
the morning, and the Golden Pig is packed with customers. On entering,
one detects the intense odor of smoked meat mixed with the aroma of ripe
guavas. Two salesmen work behind the counter, and a third places fruits
in their boxes.

They almost have no time to assist the journalist who is interested in
knowing how they have managed to start this business. This is not just
any market; there are electronic scales, vertical refrigerators, air
conditioning and — most surprising – the cleanliness and organization
are infinitely superior to those of the typical farmers' markets of
Havana, those built hurriedly under zinc plates where flies swarm and
mud has stained everything.

Here it is different. This is a small shop inside a building at the
corner of Linea and 10 in Vedado. They threw cement on the floor and
oiled it, installed dark windows and put an attractive label over the
glass. "We took two months to prepare this," says one of the workers
when he can finally answer some questions. "You already saw that it is
full," the man continues. "In December I imagine that we are going to
even need a doorman!" Success has come to them quickly since they have
only been open a few weeks.

The Golden Pig functions as a cooperative. On one of the walls, over the
counter, hangs the license that the State grants for this form of
private activity that is gaining momentum and opening new businesses at
several locations in the city.

So, for example, there is also El Barrio market, close to the embassy of
the Czech Republic. It is easy to pass by if you are not familiar with
it because, seen from outside, the closed garage does not have much
paint for being a business. Inside, the presentation of products is even
more attractive than the previous place. They possess a big refrigerated
counter with all the offers in view, already packaged and with labels
printed in Cuban pesos. They have a shiny machine for making slices at
the customer's request and an area in back where they prepare the
packages. There are not those so disagreeable odors that one usually
smells in the state butcher shops that sell in CUC (hard currency).

There are not those so disagreeable odors that one usually smells in the
state butcher shops that sell in CUC

In El Barrio a saleslady explains how a business of this type can be
pulled off. The required license is "retail seller of agricultural
products" and is sought in the municipal offices of the Ministry of Work
and Social Security. "It took us five months to take the necessary steps
for the permit, but the advantage of this activity is that we do not
need a health certificate like our suppliers," she says before assisting
another recently-arrived customer.

"Although we have to pay a lot in taxes, we manage to profit," says a
staff member at the Golden Pig. The prices on the boards are well above
what the pocketbook of the common man can pay, although similar to those
found elsewhere. "Our advantage is that we have made a different
presentation, and people like that," say the workers of the other store.

Mind you, it will never be possible to find beef in any of these
businesses. Not even cow's milk or its derivatives. The yogurt they
offer in one of these butcher shops, where they sell several types of
foods, is made with goat's milk. Neither are they permitted to trade in
imported products.

In spite of the administrative tethers and the enormous limitations that
the government places on the offer of products, private initiative
little by little paves the way in this economy that insists on calling
itself "socialist" and "planned." Nevertheless, the paltry purchasing
power of the population means few Cubans can give themselves the luxury
of entertaining their families with a pork leg – a month's average
salary – and some mouthwatering fresh lettuce leaves wrapped in clear
plastic.

Translated by MLK

Source: A Management Success: The Butcher Shops without Flies /
14ymedio, Victor Ariel Gonzalez | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/a-management-success-the-butcher-shops-without-flies-14ymedio-victor-ariel-gonzalez/