Mission Mercal
（重定向自Mercal）
![Shoppers waiting in line at a Mercal store.](/Images/godic/202501/26/Escasez_en_Venezuela,_Mercal1733.JPG")
![Súper Mercal in Judibana.](/Images/godic/202501/26/Súper_Mercal_de_Judibana1733.JPG")
Mission Mercal (officially launched on 24 April 2003) is a Bolivarian Mission established in Venezuela under the government of Hugo Chávez. The Mission involves a state-run company called Mercados de Alimentos, C.A. (MERCAL), which provides subsidised food and basic goods through a nationwide chain of stores. In 2010 Mercal was reported as having 16,600 outlets, "ranging from street-corner shops to huge warehouse stores," in addition to 6000 soup kitchens. Mercal employs 85,000 workers.