El poder compensador de las cooperativas frente a las prácticas restrictivas de la competencia. Las relaciones entre la mitilicultura y la industria conservera en Galicia

The production of mussels in the Galicia region has been historically characterized by an offer consisting of a large number of producers, while demand was concentrated in a small number of canning companies. Moreover, while canning represents more than half of the demand for mussel farmers, the percentage weight of the mussel in the production of canned food is still modest. In this scenario, prices were clearly favourable to the industry. Since the mid-70's, mussel producers, have made great efforts in building partnerships and sales outlets that have enabled them to create a monopoly of supply to cope with the power of the demand. This is the proof that in times of greatest organizational strength, a stronger growth in prices is achieved, while organizational tensions are quickly exploited by the demand to act in the opposite direction.