geographical indications: an answer to emerging consumption trends

June 2005 © Copyright FNC 2005

Geographical Indications: an answer to emerging consumption trends

Luis Fernando SamperFederación Nacional de Cafeteros de

Colombia


National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC)

•Founded in 1927, by the coffee growers of Colombia, the Federation is the non-profit, democratic and active advocate of 560,000 small cafeteros. • With the funds of the National Coffee Fund, the FNC is dedicated to improve the life in the coffee-growing communities and to protect and promote the Colombian Coffee Industry.


FNC: a democratic organizationThrough democratic elections, Colombia’s coffee growers choose their representatives to the different instances of the organization.

FNC

The Coffee Growers’ National Congress elects FNC’s CEO, and authorizes him to represent the interests of Colombian Coffee Growers.

15

353

566.000

Comité Ejecutivo

Comités Municipales

Comités Departamentales

Caficultores FederadosCaficultores Federados

Comité Nacional

Congreso Nacional de Cafeteros

15

353

566.000

1515

353353

566.000566.000

Directive Committee

Local Committees

Regional Committees

Federated Coffee GrowersFederated Coffee Growers

National Committee

Coffee Growers’

National Congress


Colombian Coffee…

• Is exclusively Arabica

• Is grown in the Colombian mountains by coffee growers who, through the years, have mastered their traditional manual harvesting and humid processing techniques.

• Their careful selection, classification and milling processes, result in a world-known quality product characterized by its mild and clean cup, pronounced aroma and mid-high acidity and body.


It is part of the FNC’s strategic objective to maintain and strengthen the

differentiation of Colombian Coffee

• Due to its unique geographical situation, Colombia enjoys the advantage of having fresh coffee of consistent quality throughout the year, which allows the positioning of 100% Colombian brands.


• A recognized and demanded origin is a tool to penetrate the entry barriers of the market, and create alliances with retailers.

• Differentiation generates brand positioning needed to access vertical integration and value added strategies.

http://www.walmart.com/


• Origin differentiation may become the competitive advantage that minimizes Colombia´s exposure to the price war coffee producers have gotten into.

The product portfolio Colombia offers to its consumers, can be provided by roasters under a common umbrella “Café de Colombia” that has unified regulations and

quality control requirements.

Price index for non-petroleum commodities (1900-2000)


Café de Colombia

• In December 2004, the FNC presented the Colombian government with an application for the recognition of “Café de Colombia” as a Denomination of Origin.

• In February 2005, the Colombian government ratified Café de Colombia as a “D.O.-G.I.”

• In June 2005, “Café de Colombia” became the first product from a non-EU nation to apply for the Protected Denomination of Origin recognition to the EU.


Why are geographical indications an interesting

alternative to pursue?• New generations have greater access and interest for more

information about the products they consume.

• Globalization has generated a niche of more conscious and demanding consumers.

• Origin has become an important differentiation tool.

• More diverse product categories: Consumers want more options with different value added proposals.

• Trade regulations are shifting towards greater traceability requirements.


New generations have greater access and interest for more information about the products they consume.

• Greater access to global information: internet, specialized publications, etc.

• Increased exposure to cultural diversity.

Y(10-24yrs): 23% (U.S.) are coffee drinkers

X(25-38 yrs): 33% (U.S.) are coffee drinkers

Commercial brands are no longer enough. New consumers are practical and knowledgeable. They seek to make informed decisions about the products they consume.

McKinsey & Company. Food service 2010: America’s Apetite Matures


Globalization has generated a niche of more conscious and

demanding consumers.

New consumption trends:

Fair Trade Organic

Environment-friendly

FreshInnovative/exotic

+ information Traceability

http://www.thebodyshopinternational.com/web/tbsgl/index.jsp

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/index.html


Origin has become an important differentiation tool.

Awareness of Colombia as a coffee-growing country

KRC Research 2004/2005

92% 91%85%

94%89%

95%

85%82%

76%72%

68%71% 72%

69%

55%

22%

Aided awareness


Café de Colombia as “the best”

KRC Research 2004/2005

53%58%

26% 26% 25%

65%

25%30% 34%

19%28%

13% 13% 11% 8%3%

Café de Colombia:"The best"


More diverse product categories: Consumers want

more options with different value added proposals.

i.e. Evolution of the coffee category in the U.S.


Trade regulations are shifting towards greater traceability

requirements for food products.

• The Bio-terrorism law in the U.S. demands a traceability system for products destined for human and animal feeding.

• In the European case, Ruling 178/02 of the European Commission, requires that, from January 2005, all producing, transforming and distributing companies of food products must have traceability systems.

• In Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture has regulated the labeling of food products. The “Law Concerning Standardization and Proper Labeling of Agricultural and Forestry Products” (JAS) requires labels to include information about origin, ingredients and storing methods.

Traceability demands the industry to have systems and procedures that guaranty the availability of information about products and suppliers for consumers and regulating authorities.


• Product identification• Product description• Production Lot Number

• Supplier ID• Harvest date• Shipper’s ID

A few basic elements found in traceability regulations

• Additionally, there are commercial requirements like Euregap, which includes traceability requirements and establishes a global reference for ideal Agricultural practices.


Geographical Indications represent an opportunity for the industry to respond

to emerging consumption trends• European Consumers perceive GI’s as:

– Origin Guarantee: 37%– Quality Guarantee: 37%– Guarantee of place and method of production: 56% – Tradition: 17%

• Geographical Indications represent a potentially attractive commercialization tool for producers around the world: – 43% of European consumers were willing to pay up to an

extra 10% for GI products – 8% of European consumers were willing to pay up to an

extra 20% for GI products – 3% of European consumers were willing to pay up to an

extra 30% for GI products

Study developed by the European Comission 1999


• For consumers and regulators of food products, Geographical Indications are a source of information and credibility. Equally, they are becoming a source of growth and development for producers around the world.

• Food safety, health and environmental concerns, are increasingly present in today’s markets. Regulations are shifting towards more demanding systems where traceability guarantees are essential.

• Emerging consumer trends have created an ideal environment for GI’s to flourish. Consumers’ demand for more and better information about the products they consume represents an opportunity for systems that guarantee origin and methods of production.

Geographical Indications: an answer to emerging consumption

trends

geographical indications: an answer to emerging consumption trends

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