Cuban Private Business Innovates "Pelly" Snacks with Homemade Machinery

An innovative Cuban private business has recently captured attention on social media for its remarkable production capabilities. Known as Olinés, this small enterprise manufactures extruded snacks, locally referred to as "pelly," similar to the popular Pikilín, using machinery they built themselves.

In a video shared on Instagram by content creator @aprendedorajeje, the inner workings of the factory were revealed. The footage showcases how a team of 20 employees transforms corn into snacks that are described as having "first-world" quality.

From Corn to Snack: The Creative Process

The journey begins with cleaning and threshing the corn. A specially engineered machine, also crafted by the team, removes the germ and the hull to prevent a strong corn taste in the final product. This process results in semolina, which is then turned into Pikilín.

Despite challenges like power outages, the factory remains operational with the help of a self-sustained generator. In addition to the well-known snack, they produce flour, local cornstarch, and animal feed.

Homemade Machinery and Secret Recipes

One of the key machines, designed and built by Olinés' owner, Maikel, is crucial for puffing the corn and achieving the final texture of the extruded snack. To create its distinctive taste, the team develops their own seasoning blend, incorporating flavors such as tomato, spicy peppers, garlic, onion, butter, chorizo, cheese, ham, and mixed spices. The exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret.

Olinés offers two packaging options: a more economical choice and a higher-quality version that enhances the product's presentation. The video testimony highlights that years of trial, error, and constant innovation were essential to refine each stage of the production process.

Private Enterprise in Cuba: A Growing Sector

In a nation where private initiatives face numerous hurdles, including resource scarcity and structural limitations of the economic model, Olinés stands out. This venture illustrates that even amid adversity, national production can be developed with creativity, self-reliance, and a long-term vision.

Olinés' initiative emerges at a pivotal time for Cuba's private sector, which has witnessed unprecedented growth as the state economy falters. Recent data indicates that over 9,000 micro, small, and medium-sized private enterprises (MIPYMES) are currently operating in the country, contributing approximately 30% of formal jobs and supplying areas where the government has fallen behind.

One example is an ice cream mini-industry in Granma, where the sole state-run factory survives thanks to private contractors. This shift signifies how the non-state sector has evolved from a complementary option to the only viable alternative for ensuring basic services.

Despite their positive impact, the government's stance remains ambiguous. Party meetings reveal that high-ranking officials view private entrepreneurs as a "necessary evil," tolerated out of convenience due to the state's inability to sustain the economy, yet subject to controls, restrictions, and ideological stigma.

Meanwhile, public figures like musician Yomil have embraced this path, launching his own energy drink under the brand “Doping,” demonstrating that the creation of national products with a business mindset is also influencing the cultural sphere.

These instances show that when innovation is allowed to thrive, it can carve out opportunities even in the most restrictive environments.