Workers at the Empresa de Bebidas y Refrescos (EMBER), in the province of Ciego de Avila, use sweeteners and other solutions in the face of a shortage of raw and refined sugar for their production processes, in order to fulfil contracts with clients and sales to the population.
Although production volumes in the entity decreased due to the shortage of these traditional raw materials, soft drinks, dry wine, vinegar, semi-sweet pineapple and sultana wines, and Avila refined rum continued to be marketed last year, the latter two items ensuring their continuity in January.
The deficit of ammonium phosphate, yeast, sugar and other inputs, encouraged the implementation of initiatives for the elaborations in an alternative way, as we achieved with the flavoured hydrating drinks, from our own efforts and variants derived from the processes of the sugar companies, informed Belkis Rodríguez Fajardo, productive director of the entity.
Our products meet the physical, chemical and sensory requirements, backed by integrated quality management and food safety systems, explained Ana Iris García López, quality specialist at the Unidad Empresarial de Base (UEB) of Bebidas La Palma.
Since 2023, the centre has held the certificate awarded by the National Standards Office for meeting the requirements of ISO 9001: 2015 standards, with scope for the production and marketing of alcoholic beverages.
Caridad Carrera Martínez, general secretary of the company’s trade union bureau, stressed that the assembly of representatives is scheduled for 5 February, and in the same month meetings of members in the eight UEBs will be held, with a view to presenting the economic plan and the budget for 2025.
In the new annual stage we will also face the challenges of material and financial limitations, which did not prevent us from achieving efficiency in 2024, a stage in which the commitments were fulfilled, said Carrera Martínez.
To cite an example, instead of economic losses, profits in excess of 138 million pesos were achieved, said the trade unionist who was recently elected as a direct delegate to the final sessions of the XXII Congress of the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC), scheduled for next April.
Carrera Martínez stressed that these dividends are the best tribute to the Food Industry Workers’ Day and the 86th anniversary of the CTC, to be celebrated on the 25th and 28th of this month, respectively.
EMBER Ciego de Avila holds the status of National Vanguard, the Business Quality Award, the 85th Anniversary Flag of the CTC and won the headquarters of the national activity for the Food Industry Workers’ Day in 2024, among other incentives.
