Groupe Bel
Encyclopedia
Bel Group or Groupe Bel (in French
) is a multinational cheese marketer centered in France
.
The Bel Group, based in the 8th district of Paris, 16 boulevard Malesherbes, manufactures and distributes processed and semi-processed cheeses, frequently packaged in individual portions. The company “Établissements Jules Bel” was founded in 1865 in Orgelet in the Department of the Jura.
This international family-owned group transformed a traditional product, cheese, using innovative concepts based on enjoyment and simplicity. “The Laughing Cow”, “Babybel
”, “Kiri”, “Leerdammer”, “Boursin” are Bel’s five core brands that are distributed on five continents. Every day, more than 33 million portions of Bel cheeses are consumed worldwide.
As of 2011, the Bel Group is established in 31 countries and its products are sold worldwide in over 120 countries.
• 1921: Registration of the brand “The laughing Cow”.
• 1929: Bel creates its first subsidiary in the UK.
• 1933: Creation of a subsidiary in Belgium.
• 1947: Launch of “Bonbel”.
• 1950: Acquisition of “Port Salut” created in 1816.
• 1952: Launch of “Babybel”.
• 1959: Creation of a subsidiary in Germany.
• 1960: Launch of “La vache qui rit” unflavored cocktail cubes. (that will become Apéricube® in 1976).
• 1965: Creation of a subsidiary in Spain that will become Bel España. (Bel Spain).
• 1966: Launch of “Kiri”.
• 1967: Creation of a subsidiary in the Netherlands that will become Bel Nederland (Bel Netherlands).
• 1968: Les Fromageries Picon join the Group.
• 1970: Creation of a subsidiary in the USA.
• 1972: Acquisition of the company Samos. Launch of Sylphide.
• 1973: Acquisition of Crowson in the UK, that will become Bel UK and creation of a subsidiary in Switzerland that will become Bel Suisse (Bel Switzerland).
• 1974: Creation of a subsidiary in Morocco that will become SIALIM.
• 1976: Integration of the “Société anonyme des fermiers réunis"(SAFR) and its subsidiaries into the Bel Group.
• 1977: Acquisition of an Italian company that will become Bel Cademartori. Launch of Mini Babybel.
• 1978: Acquisition of a company in Sweden that will become Bel Sverige (Bel Sweden).
• 1989: Acquisition of the company Adler in Germany that will become Bel Adler (Edelcreme®).
• 1990: Launch of “Mini Bonbel”.
• 1991: Acquisition of the company Maredsous in Belgium.
• 1994: Acquisition of the company Cademartori in Italy, which became Bel Cademartori in 2001 and of the company Queserías Ibéricas in Spain.
• 1995: Launch of “Pik & Croq’®”. Creation of “Pick and Mix” with the launch of “6 au Choix®”.
• 1996: Acquisition of the company Lacto Ibérica in Portugal (Limiano, Terra Nostra) and the company Kaukauna in the USA that will become Bel Kaukauna.
• 1998: Creation of a subsidiary in Egypt (Bel Egypt) and acquisition of Middle East Food Industry that will become the Bel Egypt Food Company. Acquisition of Kraft Chorzele in Poland that will become Bel Polska (Bel Poland). Launch of yellow “Mini Babybel” in Maasdam.
• 2000: Acquisition of the company Zeletavska Syrarna in the Czech Republic (Zeletava, Apetitto) and of the company Zempmilk in Slovakia (Karicka).
• 2001: Creation of a subsidiary in Algeria (Bel Algeria).
• 2002: Acquisition of the assets Merkts and Owl’s Nest by Bel Kaukauna in the USA. Acquisition of Syrokrem in Slovakia. Creation of subsidiaries in Greece (Bel Hellas Cheese Company) and in Tunisia (Bel Tunisia). Termination of SAFR’s soft cheese production. Acquisition of the companies in the Dutch Leerdammer Group and its European subsidiaries based in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
• 2003: Termination of activities of Manchego of the Bel subsidiary Queserías Ibéricas.
• 2005: Termination of activities carried out under the Cademartori brand. Creation of a subsidiary in Syria (Bel Syria).
• 2000: Acquisition of Fromagerie Boursin from Unilever.
• 2009: Change of logo.
• Apéricube (PartyCubes, Belcube, Cheese&Fun) (1960)
• BabyBel (1952)
• Bonbel (1947)
• Boursin (2007)
• Cantadou
• Cousteron
• Karička
• Karper (2006)
• Kaukauna
• Kiri (1966).
• Leerdammer (2002)
• Limiano
• Maredsous
• Merkts
• Picon
• Port Salut
• Price's
• Régal Picon
• Smetanito / Želatava
• Sylphide
• Syrokrém
• Terra Nostra
• Toastinette
• The Laughing Cow (1921)
• Le Véritable Port Salut (1950)
• Wispride
Objective
The Bel Foundation acts on behalf of children and their well-being around the world, by promoting a balanced diet and preserving the environment, as far as it is required for a healthy diet.
Rather than support big initiatives, the Foundation has chosen to support a number of projects around the world.
Find out more about the projects supported by the Foundation.
How the Foundation works
The Bel Corporate Foundation is led by two committees: the Board of Directors and the Selection and Project Follow-up Committee.
The Board of Directors defines and guides the Foundation’s strategy and examines funding applications twice a year. It is made up of representatives of the Bel and Unibel founders, employees and quality controllers.
The Selection and Project Follow-up Committee, made up of employees and outside persons, analyses and selects projects that answer the Foundation’s criteria throughout the year. The Selection and Project Follow-up Committee presents these projects to the Board of Directors, follows up the projects that have been approved by the Board of Directors and ensures that they are implemented.
For more information on the Foundation’s committees
Submitting a project
Download the grant application.
Your application will be submitted to the Selection and Project Follow-up Committee for possible selection by the Board of Directors.
For more information
Consult the foundation’s website www.fondation-bel.org
Download the Foundation’s activity report.
Heading up Lab’Bel are artist Laurent Fiévet, a member of the Bel family whose photographic works have been the subject of numerous exhibits and events, and Silvia Guerra, an art critic and exhibit curator.
Origin
Since its founding, Bel has had a tradition of artistic outreach, particularly towards graphic artists, including illustrators Benjamin Rabier, who designed the Laughing Cow, and Francisque Poulbot, known for his iconic drawings of Parisian children, and celebrated animator Paul Grimault. The Laughing Cow is featured in collections at the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Museum of Advertising, among others.
Now, Bel is expanding its cultural vision with a Museum dedicated to its legendary cow – La Maison de La vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow Museum), in Lons-le-Saunier – which will also house special events hosted by Lab’Bel.
Aim
Lab’Bel is committed to supporting contemporary art through a variety of actions that reflect the Bel culture and philosophy: innovation, accessibility, sharing, humor, ingenuity and wit.
Bel’s commitment to art is a natural extension of its desire to bring smiles to children and families around the world, to support the artistic community, and to share the benefits of art with the broader public.
Mission
The Art Laboratory has three main missions:
- To assemble a collection of works, created exclusively in the year 2000 and beyond, that correspond to Lab’Bel’s philosophy and thematic focuses.
- To organize events and art exhibits. The first exhibit, Rewind, held in 2010, brought together a series of contemporary works on the theme of childhood.
- To guide projects in the medium-term by supporting artists in their production processes (study tours, networking, etc.).
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) is a multinational cheese marketer centered in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The Bel Group, based in the 8th district of Paris, 16 boulevard Malesherbes, manufactures and distributes processed and semi-processed cheeses, frequently packaged in individual portions. The company “Établissements Jules Bel” was founded in 1865 in Orgelet in the Department of the Jura.
This international family-owned group transformed a traditional product, cheese, using innovative concepts based on enjoyment and simplicity. “The Laughing Cow”, “Babybel
Babybel
Babybel is a brand of cheese sold internationally. The Bel Group introduced Babybel in 1952 and in 1977 Mini Babybel was launched in France. In 1979, Mini Babybel was launched in the U.S. under the Laughing Cow umbrella brand. As of 2011, Mini Babybel is eaten in North America, South America,...
”, “Kiri”, “Leerdammer”, “Boursin” are Bel’s five core brands that are distributed on five continents. Every day, more than 33 million portions of Bel cheeses are consumed worldwide.
As of 2011, the Bel Group is established in 31 countries and its products are sold worldwide in over 120 countries.
History
• 1865: Creation of “Établissements Jules Bel” in Orgelet (Department of the Jura).• 1921: Registration of the brand “The laughing Cow”.
• 1929: Bel creates its first subsidiary in the UK.
• 1933: Creation of a subsidiary in Belgium.
• 1947: Launch of “Bonbel”.
• 1950: Acquisition of “Port Salut” created in 1816.
• 1952: Launch of “Babybel”.
• 1959: Creation of a subsidiary in Germany.
• 1960: Launch of “La vache qui rit” unflavored cocktail cubes. (that will become Apéricube® in 1976).
• 1965: Creation of a subsidiary in Spain that will become Bel España. (Bel Spain).
• 1966: Launch of “Kiri”.
• 1967: Creation of a subsidiary in the Netherlands that will become Bel Nederland (Bel Netherlands).
• 1968: Les Fromageries Picon join the Group.
• 1970: Creation of a subsidiary in the USA.
• 1972: Acquisition of the company Samos. Launch of Sylphide.
• 1973: Acquisition of Crowson in the UK, that will become Bel UK and creation of a subsidiary in Switzerland that will become Bel Suisse (Bel Switzerland).
• 1974: Creation of a subsidiary in Morocco that will become SIALIM.
• 1976: Integration of the “Société anonyme des fermiers réunis"(SAFR) and its subsidiaries into the Bel Group.
• 1977: Acquisition of an Italian company that will become Bel Cademartori. Launch of Mini Babybel.
• 1978: Acquisition of a company in Sweden that will become Bel Sverige (Bel Sweden).
• 1989: Acquisition of the company Adler in Germany that will become Bel Adler (Edelcreme®).
• 1990: Launch of “Mini Bonbel”.
• 1991: Acquisition of the company Maredsous in Belgium.
• 1994: Acquisition of the company Cademartori in Italy, which became Bel Cademartori in 2001 and of the company Queserías Ibéricas in Spain.
• 1995: Launch of “Pik & Croq’®”. Creation of “Pick and Mix” with the launch of “6 au Choix®”.
• 1996: Acquisition of the company Lacto Ibérica in Portugal (Limiano, Terra Nostra) and the company Kaukauna in the USA that will become Bel Kaukauna.
• 1998: Creation of a subsidiary in Egypt (Bel Egypt) and acquisition of Middle East Food Industry that will become the Bel Egypt Food Company. Acquisition of Kraft Chorzele in Poland that will become Bel Polska (Bel Poland). Launch of yellow “Mini Babybel” in Maasdam.
• 2000: Acquisition of the company Zeletavska Syrarna in the Czech Republic (Zeletava, Apetitto) and of the company Zempmilk in Slovakia (Karicka).
• 2001: Creation of a subsidiary in Algeria (Bel Algeria).
• 2002: Acquisition of the assets Merkts and Owl’s Nest by Bel Kaukauna in the USA. Acquisition of Syrokrem in Slovakia. Creation of subsidiaries in Greece (Bel Hellas Cheese Company) and in Tunisia (Bel Tunisia). Termination of SAFR’s soft cheese production. Acquisition of the companies in the Dutch Leerdammer Group and its European subsidiaries based in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
• 2003: Termination of activities of Manchego of the Bel subsidiary Queserías Ibéricas.
• 2005: Termination of activities carried out under the Cademartori brand. Creation of a subsidiary in Syria (Bel Syria).
• 2000: Acquisition of Fromagerie Boursin from Unilever.
• 2009: Change of logo.
Bel Group Brands
• Adler-Edelcrème• Apéricube (PartyCubes, Belcube, Cheese&Fun) (1960)
• BabyBel (1952)
• Bonbel (1947)
• Boursin (2007)
• Cantadou
• Cousteron
• Karička
• Karper (2006)
• Kaukauna
• Kiri (1966).
• Leerdammer (2002)
• Limiano
• Maredsous
• Merkts
• Picon
• Port Salut
• Price's
• Régal Picon
• Smetanito / Želatava
• Sylphide
• Syrokrém
• Terra Nostra
• Toastinette
• The Laughing Cow (1921)
• Le Véritable Port Salut (1950)
• Wispride
Bel's corporate foundation
Bel’s Corporate Foundation was created in May 2008 by the Bel group and its reference shareholder, Unibel.Objective
The Bel Foundation acts on behalf of children and their well-being around the world, by promoting a balanced diet and preserving the environment, as far as it is required for a healthy diet.
Rather than support big initiatives, the Foundation has chosen to support a number of projects around the world.
Find out more about the projects supported by the Foundation.
How the Foundation works
The Bel Corporate Foundation is led by two committees: the Board of Directors and the Selection and Project Follow-up Committee.
The Board of Directors defines and guides the Foundation’s strategy and examines funding applications twice a year. It is made up of representatives of the Bel and Unibel founders, employees and quality controllers.
The Selection and Project Follow-up Committee, made up of employees and outside persons, analyses and selects projects that answer the Foundation’s criteria throughout the year. The Selection and Project Follow-up Committee presents these projects to the Board of Directors, follows up the projects that have been approved by the Board of Directors and ensures that they are implemented.
For more information on the Foundation’s committees
Submitting a project
Download the grant application.
Your application will be submitted to the Selection and Project Follow-up Committee for possible selection by the Board of Directors.
For more information
Consult the foundation’s website www.fondation-bel.org
Download the Foundation’s activity report.
Lab'Bel
Lab’Bel is Bel’s Art Laboratory, inaugurated in the spring of 2010, and sponsored by the Group and its main shareholder, Unibel.Heading up Lab’Bel are artist Laurent Fiévet, a member of the Bel family whose photographic works have been the subject of numerous exhibits and events, and Silvia Guerra, an art critic and exhibit curator.
Origin
Since its founding, Bel has had a tradition of artistic outreach, particularly towards graphic artists, including illustrators Benjamin Rabier, who designed the Laughing Cow, and Francisque Poulbot, known for his iconic drawings of Parisian children, and celebrated animator Paul Grimault. The Laughing Cow is featured in collections at the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Museum of Advertising, among others.
Now, Bel is expanding its cultural vision with a Museum dedicated to its legendary cow – La Maison de La vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow Museum), in Lons-le-Saunier – which will also house special events hosted by Lab’Bel.
Aim
Lab’Bel is committed to supporting contemporary art through a variety of actions that reflect the Bel culture and philosophy: innovation, accessibility, sharing, humor, ingenuity and wit.
Bel’s commitment to art is a natural extension of its desire to bring smiles to children and families around the world, to support the artistic community, and to share the benefits of art with the broader public.
Mission
The Art Laboratory has three main missions:
- To assemble a collection of works, created exclusively in the year 2000 and beyond, that correspond to Lab’Bel’s philosophy and thematic focuses.
- To organize events and art exhibits. The first exhibit, Rewind, held in 2010, brought together a series of contemporary works on the theme of childhood.
- To guide projects in the medium-term by supporting artists in their production processes (study tours, networking, etc.).