Secure labels for high-quality oysters: The Quality Group Oysters Marennes Oléron relies on solutions by KURZ subsidiary SCRIBOS

Fürth/Germany, June 20, 2023: To be granted their official signs of quality, the Huîtres Marennes Oléron PGI and Label Rouge have to meet very strict requirements. Among other things, the refining, packaging and shipping of Marennes Oléron Oysters must be performed in one of the 27 communes of the geographical area of the PGI. In this way the origin of the four varieties of the product can be guaranteed. To ensure the authenticity of its products and uphold its name, the Groupement Qualité Huîtres Marennes Oléron has opted for a one-stop solution, which includes the ValiGate^® Direct Print solution from KURZ subsidiary SCRIBOS in combination with the SCRIBOS 360 digital platform. The first batch of these labels was produced last summer. The KURZ SCRIBOS label does not only act as a security label, but also serves as a quality seal for the high-quality Marennes d'Oléron PGI and Label Rouge oysters. These are only awarded to oyster farms which are located in the 27 municipalities and are able to meet the requested strict standards.

Secure labels for oysters that meet the official quality standards

The Marennes-Oléron oyster basin is home to the largest oyster farm in Europe, accounting for half of French production. In addition to being part of this territory, the designation Huîtres Marennes Oléron PGI also refers to:

• a particular environment, the oyster bed (former salt marshes located on the banks of the Seudre or on the coast between the Ile d'Oléron and the mainland),
• the know-how of the oyster farmer, acquired over the centuries in regards to this particular environment and product, which gave rise to breeding in oyster beds and maturing in oyster beds,
• the shellfish, the hollow oyster, which is perfectly adapted to this environment

Thanks to this specific and unique production method, the oyster is refined by its time spent in the oyster beds. Increased shelf life out of water, superior organoleptic quality, natural colouring of the oyster's gills by a micro-algae, exceptional growth and flesh quality, all of these elements make Marennes Oléron PGI oysters a recognised and highly appreciated product throughout the world. The product range consists of four varieties: Fine de Claire, Spéciale de Claire, Fine de Claire Verte and Pousse en Claire; all PGI and the last two even having received the Label Rouge.

This exceptional quality is particularly deserving of protection. This is why the Groupement Qualité Huîtres Marennes Oléron (GQHMO) opted early on for a security label solution. However, the former solution was not sufficient to meet the high demands of the group.

Thanks to the end-to-end offer from KURZ subsidiary SCRIBOS, the group now receives all services from a single source and is already fully satisfied. Guaranteeing the highest level of product security, these secure labels include the ValiGate^® Direct Print solution in combination with the innovative digital platform SCRIBOS 360.

The ValiGate^® tamper-evident product marking system can be integrated directly into the label or even into the packaging. This reduces implementation efforts and the environmental footprint. On top of this, the consumer can check the authenticity of the product quickly and intuitively.

The SCRIBOS 360 digital platform brings together multiple functionalities, such as product authentication, extensive customer interaction options such as bonus programs and competitions, product branding, order management for suppliers, and convenient analysis tools to locate illegal activities and possible fraud attempts.

“In addition to the many promotion features for reaching our customers, we were particularly impressed by the power of the SCRIBOS 360 tool. Moreover, the solution is easily scalable, allowing for example to add a hologram as an additional security element or an even more extensive tracking and tracing system.”

We have a ‘green’, natural and healthy product and yet we are able to do tech! This is also the future”, says Laurent CHIRON, President, Groupement Qualité Huîtres Marennes Oléron.