Mexico's Candy Cartel

According to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Mexico consumes the most cola per capital of any nation in the world. They even have their own recipe for Coke, often referred to as Mexicoke. Instead of having a base of high-fructose corn syrup, Mexicoke is made from refined sugar cane. This love for sweet goes back hundreds, even thousands of years ago, as the Aztecs found their own love for hot drinking chocolate. Today that sweet tooth has spawned a rather delinquent form of activity: the Candy Cartel.

According to Wikipedia, a cartel is a "formal agreement among competing firms" in which they very often agree upon "price fixing, total industry output, market shares, allocation of customers, allocation of territories" and so on. In Mexico, this sort of arrangement exists at a very low level and without much organisation - at least in comparison to other more sinister cartels.

There are two things to keep in mind about Mexicans. Firstly, as discussed, they love their sweets. Second, the Mexican people are very patriotic, fiercely protective of their culture, and completely in love with foreign chocolate. All right, that is really three things, but the point has been made.

So, according to American expats living in the Yucatan, the Mexican candy companies have formed a cartel to help keep out American candy companies such as Nestle and Mars Corp. Five years ago, once would not have been able to see a single English word on any candy package at any candy bar in Mexico (and there are many). Alas, as always money talks, as it has appeared lately that Mars Corp has made peace with the Cartel and there are a few representations of their candy bar line in the corner stores. Just a few, so don't get too excited.

Another interesting side effect of the Mexico Candy Cartel is the knock-off. Members of the Candy Cartel may not allow American candy too far past its borders, but that doesn't mean they don't try to copy the best bars. For example, try out a bar called Bocadin. Take the wrapper off, and then eat it with eyes closed. It will taste, feel, crunch and smell just like a Kit-Kat - guaranteed. Do the same with a Panditas. You will find yourself thinking those are our beloved Gummy Bears rolling around your mouth.

If you happen to make a few friend while on vacation in Cancun, and even correspond with them when you get back home, we have an important bit of information. It is illegal to ship candy into Mexico. Even if you defy the law and send a very lovely box of Lindt chocolates to your friend, wrapped up and concealed as much as possible, they will never arrive.

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Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/mexico-s-candy-cartel-287226

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