Creating sub-consortia as a means of counteracting changes to specification sheets: the case of Parmigiano Reggiano

Prior studies have shown how increasing heterogeneity of commons negatively affects product regulation. This work uses a case-study approach and analyses the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium in Italy. Specifically, we applied a ground-theory approach and interviewed stakeholders at different levels (n=24) in the time frame 2012-2013. While our study confirms prior findings on new-comers’ efforts to loose strictness in the code of practice, it also shows how Parmigiano Reggiano members organize themselves in subconsortia to better provide resilience to such strategies. The study discusses implications and strategies valuable both for scholars and for geographical indications managers.