You have probably heard the terms "Jabugo ham", "Santoña anchovies" or "Montilla-Moriles wine" before, and the protected designations of origin - or DOP - are very well known.
They are, as the Royal Spanish Academy says, a distinctive sign of a geographical nature used to distinguish those agri-food products that owe their quality exclusively or primarily to the place where they are produced and processed.
In Spain there are around 100 Designations of Origin only in wines, more of 30 if we talk about olive oil, and the figure continues to increase if we go sector by sector within agri-food products. What's more, in 2015, the Denominations of Origin obtained their own Law.
And why are they interesting to us? Because they are important in export terms.
Why can appellations of origin help you in the internationalization of your brand?
The truth is that the commercial possibilities of the products increase.
By the mere fact of being able to state the belonging of the Denomination of Origin of La Rioja, that wine already charges, from the start, a superior added value to another who does not have it.
This is because, for a product to be qualified in this way, it must undergo a controlled and suitable cultivation and transformation process; what it is synonymous with product quality assurance, as well as food safety.
In addition, the Denominations of Origin have the support of public institutions and organizations, which gives them a greater visibility and reliability for potential clients.
A well-known Designation of Origin that is concerned with positioning its “brand” appropriately can be a great asset.
However, not everything is positive, and we must take that into account.
The actions of the institutions that control the Designation of Origin have a direct impact on the image of our product, whether we like it or not.
What's more, even when there is a problem with another brand within our Denomination of Origin, The consequences may affect our product. and that, in the media, they talk about a problem with, for example, La Rioja wines when, perhaps, the problem is only with wines of a certain brand.
Advantages and disadvantages that we should weigh in our business strategy.
There are also other options, such as the Protected Geographical Indication - or PGI.
The main difference between a Designation of Origin and a Protected Geographical Indication lies in whether the production, transformation and processing phases of the product are carried out within the geographical area itself, as is the case of the first, or, if any of these phases go outside said area.
You'll tell us which one you opt for!
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