Spanish supermarket teams up with Cuban dictatorship, opens well-stocked, prohibitively expensive store in Havana

From our Bureau of Real-World Socialist Replications of Orwell’s Animal Farm with some assistance from our Bureau of Socialist Aesthetics and Social Justice

Yes, Mildred, those geniuses who run Cuba are obsessed with Orwell’s fable Animal Farm. Why else would they put so much effort into replicating it over and over? Yes, Mildred, they want all Cubans to know that all Cubans are equal, but some Cubans are more equal than others. Tell me, who can afford to shop at this store, where the prices far exceed what 99 percent of Cubans can afford?

And, by the way, Mildred, what do you think of the architecture and the paint color chosen for this monument to socialist social justice? Beautiful, isn’t it? Nice interior décor, too, especially the bubble gum pink. But why are the windows blacked out?

Loosely translated from Periodico Cubano

The Caribe Stores chain, controlled by the military’s Business Administration Group (Gaesa), has opened a new establishment in Havana to sell imported food products from Spain in freely convertible currency (MLC).

The inauguration of the Amistad 26 Market, located at Avenida 26 and Zapata in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, took place last weekend and included the presence of Spanish investors from Berria and the Aldaketa group, a Basque food supplier that has been supplying hotels in Cuba for over 30 years.

According to the marketing campaign by Berria-Tiendas Caribe, “In addition to the best promotions, you will find quality service designed for you. Our team is ready to serve you and provide the best shopping experience.” The food products include soft drinks, juices, canned goods, dairy products, cold cuts, oils, pasta, cookies, and frozen items.

For the Caribe-Berria minimarket project, “improvements in variety and costs will be ensured, adapting to the population’s needs,” as stated in the social media promotions. However, for an average Cuban worker earning about $12 per month based on the informal market exchange rate, it is impossible to purchase food in MLC.

The expansion of MLC stores deepens inequality and limits most Cubans’ access to basic products, highlighting the government’s disconnection from the real needs of its people.

Periódico Cubano investigated Aldaketa and found that it is a Spanish company headquartered in Galdakao, Bizkaia, specializing in the distribution of food products to Cuba. With over 30 years of experience, it has excelled in the hotel sector and Cuban supermarkets. Its logistics center in the Basque Country manages more than 500 containers annually from the port of Bilbao to Mariel, with a biweekly frequency and 19 days of direct transit.

Aldaketa’s catalog includes over 800 references of dry, refrigerated, and frozen foods from 25 leading Spanish brands. The goods are distributed through its facilities in Miramar.