Aguas de Mondariz, which has just celebrated its 150th anniversary, as well as being one of the most emblematic Galician brands with the strongest tradition, was one of the first to adhere to the Galicia Calidade seal. It maintains its headquarters in Mondariz, from which it exports Galician water nationally and internationally, and is currently present in more than 30 countries around the world.

Few companies can boast of having been around for 150 years. What were the keys to staying in business for more than a century and a half?

Fundamentally, I would highlight four key aspects that explain the longevity of our brand: our commitment to quality, our link to healthcare, our distribution and our innovation.

Our relationship with health is intrinsic to our existence; in fact, our water was originally classified as medicinal mineral water, and it was bottled as a result of the need for spa guests to enjoy its therapeutic benefits once they returned home.

Having the best distribution partners in every town, village, region and country was and still is a great asset for the brand.

Since the beginning of time, we have been innovators in our business model, our packaging and presentation, and our industrial systems. Over the years, we have been committed to diversifying the water category, marketing all types of mineral water. We have adapted to the new needs and demands of consumers by launching health drinks, juices and fruit nectars in different flavours and formats. Our innovation also involves environmental management and the implementation of systems of quality and food safety.

This commitment to quality, health and innovation has enabled us to achieve the highest score for seven consecutive years in the blind tastings of the prestigious International Taste Institute in Brussels. Aguas de Mondariz has been awarded the Diamonds Taste Award on two occasions, the Institute's highest distinction.

Origin, quality, properties... What do consumers value most in Aguas de Mondariz?

Our water has unique properties, it is very pleasant on the palate and easy to digest. We also use a form of technology that guarantees that the end consumer is the first to have contact with the water. Moreover, Aguas de Mondariz has 150 years of history and tradition, it has been filtered underground for more than 100 years and is produced in the Natura Network, a protected natural environment.

Mondariz Balneario is Galicia's smallest municipality. What is the social and economic impact of the company on the municipality and surrounding area?

Aguas de Mondariz is not just a company. It is a social and economic project that has been creating stable employment for 150 years, generation after generation, in a rural area of Galicia such as Mondariz, Mondariz-Balneario and, in general, the Condado Paradanta area. We proudly carry the name of our town wherever we go in the world because, in short, our town is also our brand.

Can you continue to innovate in the mineral water sector?

Of course we can. Although the product is the same as when it began to be bottled and sold 150 years ago, since nature offers us a unique type of water, all we do is bottle it so that it reaches the consumer. In truth, there are other aspects in which we have room for innovation. In this sense, we have focused our efforts on bottling our water in the most responsible way possible in order to preserve its properties. To this end, among many other things, we design new packaging that is easier to recycle, we reduce the consumption of materials in the production process and we install more energy-efficient systems. For us, a commitment to innovation and responsibility is crucial.

What are the company's challenges in the coming years?

To continue on the path of innovation, with the launch of healthy products to meet the needs of consumers, who are increasingly informed and aware of the importance of healthy hydration.

In terms of internationalisation, to continue to expand the brand, which is currently present in more than 30 countries, in order to be able to reach anywhere in the world. All of this while respecting the environment and focusing on the environmental commitment that Aguas de Mondariz has maintained since its origins. At the same time, the principles of sustainability are still very present in the company's roadmap, both in the development of new packaging and in all the strategic decisions we make.

You were one of the first brands to adhere to the Galicia Calidade seal, thus contributing to its expansion. What brings the brand closer to national and international markets?

Galicia Calidade is a guarantee brand, a seal which conveys confidence to consumers due to its firm commitment to quality and origins inside and outside our country, which benefits the projection of the brands that are part of it. Aguas de Mondariz is proud to carry Galicia's name on all its bottles, thus helping to spread the word that our land is a land of good food, good drink and people who know how to do things well. We are an example of this, as Mondariz is the best water in the world. If there is one thing we Galicians know about, it is water.