OCOP products are good in terms of substance but lack a good "appearance".

"Optimizing" local advantages from OCOP products.

When talking about Nam Dan's specialties, one cannot overlook soy sauce, so when tourists visit, Nam Dan brand soy sauce is often among the souvenirs they bring home.

To the productNam Dan sauceTo achieve this delicious taste, local producers have put a great deal of effort into selecting ingredients and processing them according to "optimized" traditional recipes, resulting in batches of renownedly delicious soy sauce.

Ms. Bui Thi Ha, owner of a soy sauce production facility in Nam Giang commune (Nam Dan district), whose product has achieved 3-star OCOP certification, said: By introducing the product at trade fairs; participating in supply-demand connection activities organized by the Cooperative Alliance and the Department of Industry and Trade; and promoting it on social media, her family's soy sauce product is becoming more widely known to consumers. On average, they sell 1-2 million VND worth of soy sauce per day, and after deducting expenses, they make a 50% profit.

Regarding product packaging design, Ms. Bui Thi Ha expressed her concern: "Up until now, our family's soy sauce has been packaged in 1-liter plastic bottles for convenience and cost reduction, but we felt it wasn't visually appealing. We considered switching to glass bottles, but the cost is significantly higher than plastic bottles. Not only is the purchase of glass bottles more expensive, but we also need to invest in additional containers to prevent breakage during transportation. However, in the long run, we will switch to glass bottles to cater to consumer preferences for a more aesthetically pleasing, modern, and hygienic product."

Not only the soy sauce product, but also some other products of the Sen Que Bac Cooperative (Kim Lien, Nam Dan) such as lotus tea, lotus leaf tea, lotus heart tea... although the cooperative has used many eye-catching packaging types, some opinions suggest that they are still simple and not attractive enough.

At some OCOP product exhibitions and presentations organized by...Provincial Cooperative UnionOrganizations and many customers believe that, although product packaging has received investment, there is a need for continuous innovation in design to keep up with consumer tastes. Quality is the decisive factor in product success, but how to stand out and attract customers depends on product packaging design, in addition to being suitable for different age groups...

Besides soy sauce, a traditional product, Nam Dan also boasts many high-quality OCOP (One Commune One Product) products. These include products from the Sen Que Bac Cooperative, the Chanh Nam Kim Cooperative, the Xanh Dai Hue Cooperative, the Duc Tuan Beef Sausage Cooperative, the Son Cam Beef Sausage Production Facility, Chau Huong; Phuong Cong Nutritional Products, Quang Cau Clean Mushrooms, Chuyen Quan Longan Cakes, Hung Tien Peanut Oil, etc., delighting consumers every time they taste them.

Mr. Ho Sy Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Dan district, said that in recent years, the district has focused on urging and reviewing products with advantages associated with local traditions and strengths to guide businesses in developing OCOP products. To date, the entire district has 69 products that have achieved OCOP star ratings, including 9 products with 4 stars and 60 products with 3 stars.

To promptly encourage and motivate OCOP (One Commune One Product) entities, and in accordance with Resolution No. 25/2020/NQ-HĐND dated December 13, 2020, of the Provincial People's Council on regulations regarding policies for implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program in the province for the period 2021-2025, the district has provided support for purchasing machinery and equipment for Dai Hue Green Cooperative with 200 million VND; supported a display booth for Uncle Ho's Lotus Cooperative with 300 million VND; supported a machinery and equipment booth for Duc Tuan Beef Sausage Cooperative with 300 million VND; and will continue to provide support to several other cooperatives in the future.

According to Mr. Ho Sy Hai, developing OCOP products not only allows for sales outside the district but also facilitates product display and sales at tourist destinations within the district. Nam Dan has advantages in spiritual tourism, cultural and historical tourism, and ecotourism, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists annually.

However, in reality, some OCOP product producers have not yet invested in innovating their product packaging. For long-term development, the district directs OCOP product producers to focus on investing in innovating product packaging designs to be increasingly eye-catching, sophisticated, modern, and with complete information about origin, quality, and clear barcodes and QR codes for verification.

Concerns about innovating designs.

With the totalOCOP productsCurrently having the highest number of jobs compared to other localities in the province is an advantage for Nam Dan to exploit its potential, create jobs, and increase income for its people.

Recently, during a monitoring session on the implementation of the National Target Program for New Rural Development in Nam Dan district, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Nhu Khoi commented that Nam Dan has many high-quality OCOP products. However, in addition to quality, OCOP product owners need to pay more attention to product packaging design to increase attractiveness for tourists. Packaging should not only be beautiful but also contain complete information about origin and a clear QR code for product verification.

“Looking at other provinces, we see that besides continuously improving product quality, they also constantly strive to change product packaging designs, making them more attractive to customers. We can see examples like Hai Duong mung bean cakes; Hanoi sticky rice cakes… and many other products from other provinces, with increasingly attractive packaging. Nam Dan, a locality with tourism development potential, needs to pay attention to the packaging of OCOP products, which will lead to stronger sales,” Mr. Nguyen Nhu Khoi expressed.

Looking at the province as a whole, the One Commune One Product Program has developed strongly. All 21 districts, cities, and towns participate in building and developing OCOP products. To date, the province has 567 products that have achieved OCOP star ratings, including: 37 products with 4-star rating; 529 products with 3-star rating; and 1 product with 5-star rating.

To make OCOP products from Nghe An more widely known to consumers, it is essential to gradually improve quality, especially by paying attention to packaging design. Because product packaging should be constantly updated and made more attractive and eye-catching, reflecting the dedication of OCOP product owners, thereby building greater customer trust.