Cuban Snack Queen from Hialeah: "Yes, You Can, But It's a Day-by-Day Journey"

Yezmin León, originally from Cojímar, Havana, made her way to the United States 27 years ago. Today, she is known on social media as the "Queen of Coditos." With the support of her tech-savvy son-in-law, Rodolfo Saccoman, she crafts and distributes her crunchy elbow pasta snacks, made from scratch in her Hialeah home, to 250 stores across South Florida, including Sedano's and Presidente SuperMarket.

When asked by CiberCuba about her advice for those with a business idea but unsure how to start, she replied candidly, "Yes, you can. It takes a lot of work. Doors will sometimes close, and criticism will come your way, but that's part of it; grow, learn, and keep moving forward because yes, it is possible. And if God is with you, my dear, if those are the plans, you will achieve it."

The Birth of CODITOS

Yezmin León, alongside her son-in-law Rodolfo Saccoman, founded CODITOS just two years ago. They transformed a Cuban family recipe—known as "chicharrita" or "chicharrón de viento"—into a snack brand that León personally distributes throughout South Florida.

In an interview with CiberCuba, León couldn't hide her excitement when reflecting on her journey, "God, we did it. It's incredible." She emphasized that there are no shortcuts in such endeavors, "I believe nothing is easy when you start something from scratch."

Strategic Insights from a Business Partner

Her Brazilian partner, Rodolfo Saccoman, provided a more strategic view of their venture. He believes the biggest threat to a big dream is feeling overwhelmed. "When you have a dream, if it feels too large, it becomes a giant, and giants are intimidating, making the path seem distant. So, the approach I've used throughout my career, and with coditos, is a day-by-day focus. Today, if I can accomplish one thing, I do that and move forward. If I can do two things tomorrow, I continue advancing. Otherwise, you risk getting lost and drowning in the dream."

To illustrate this philosophy, interviewer Tania Costa referenced a soccer analogy: "As Cholo Simeone, Atlético de Madrid's coach, says: win the league match by match. Don't think about next year's outcomes. It's one match at a time, step by step."

Engaging with the Audience

The interview also featured a live interaction with the audience. A follower named Mercedes Pulido Álvarez, originally from Camagüey, shared that she used to eat those snacks as a child and asked if they were available in Houston, Texas.

Yezmin León answered sincerely, "Have her tell us which store she would like to find them in Houston."

This comment from a Camagüey native underscores what CODITOS' founders have emphasized from the start: the snack is not just a product but a shared memory for generations of Cubans, both on and off the island.

Aiming for Expansion

Born in the garden of Yezmin León's Hialeah home, the brand closed a pre-seed funding round of $750,000 in June of this year with investors like Blue Collective, the University of Miami Cane Angel Network, and Azoic Ventures. Their goal is to expand to 700 stores in South Florida and enter new state markets and channels, such as cruises and universities.

Among the Cubans who have built successful businesses in exile, Yezmin León's story stands out for its humble beginnings: a tray of elbow pasta drying in the sun in a Hialeah garden and the belief that with hard work and faith, "yes, you can."