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Bel Group

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bel S.A.
TypePrivate
Euronext Paris: UNIBEL
IndustryFood industry
Founded1865
FounderJules Bel
HeadquartersSuresnes, Île-de-France
Area served
Worldwide
Key peopleCécile Béliot (CEO)[1]
Ivan Giraud (CEO of Bel Brands USA)[2]
ProductsCheese, fruit-based products, plant-based alternatives
RevenueIncrease €3.83 billion (2025)[3]
Increase €107 million (2025)[4]
OwnerUnibel S.A. (94.70 %)
Fiévet-Bel family (4.10 %)
Number of employees
11,557 (2021)[5]
ParentUnibel[6][7]
Websitewww.groupe-bel.com

The Bel Group (legally Société Bel) is a global food company headquartered in Suresnes (near Paris), Île-de-France, France. It specializes in portion-controlled cheese, fruit, and plant-based products.

The company "Établissements Jules Bel" were founded in 1865 in Orgelet in the (Jura) Department. The family-owned group became a major player in the sector through brand development, international expansion, and various acquisitions during the 20th century. It later diversified into plant-based and fruit-based products after the 2000s.

Bel is a family-owned multinational group operating in more than 120 countries, with annual revenue of approximately €3.83 billion in the early 2020s. It employs nearly 11,000 people and owns a portfolio of consumer brands including The Laughing Cow (La Vache qui rit), Babybel, Kiri, Boursin, and Pom'Potes.[8] Since 25 January 2022, Bel has been 94.70% owned by the family holding company Unibel,[9][10] in which the Fiévet family holds an 80% stake and is the controlling shareholder.[11] On May 12, 2022, the group's board of directors appointed Cécile Béliot as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and renewed Antoine Fiévet's mandate as Chairman of the Board.[12][13] In 2024, Bel adopted the status of a mission-led company (Entreprise à mission), committing itself to the goal of providing "healthier and more sustainable food for all."

History

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Origins

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In 1865, the "Établissements Jules Bel", a business specialising in the maturation and trading of wheels of Comté, was founded in Orgelet, in the Jura department of eastern France. Jules Bel's son, Léon Bel, took over the family business in 1904.

During the First World War, Léon Bel served in a military meat supply unit whose mascot was a laughing beef designed by the French illustrator Benjamin Rabier.[14] A few years later, after learning Swiss techniques for producing processed cheese with a long shelf life that could be stored at room temperature, he again commissioned Rabier to design the visual identity of the commercial brand The Laughing Cow (La Vache qui rit), which was registered in 1921.

Eight years later, in 1929, Bel created its first subsidiary in the United Kingdom. In 1933, another subsidiary was established in Belgium. In 1947, the Bonbel brand was launched. Three years later, in 1950, the company acquired Port Salut,[15] which had been founded by Trappist monks in 1816. In 1952, Bel launched Babybel, one of the group's flagship brands. A new subsidiary was established in Germany in 1959.[16]

Six years later, in 1965, another subsidiary was established in Spain, later becoming Bel España (Bel Spain).[16] The Kiri brand was launched in 1966.[17] A year later, in 1967, Bel established a subsidiary in the Netherlands, later becoming Bel Nederland (Bel Netherlands).[16] The following year, in 1968, Les Fromageries Picon merged with the company.[18]

In 1970, a subsidiary was established in the United States.[16] Two years later, in 1972, it acquired Samos and launched the Sylphide brand.[18] The following year, in 1973, Bel acquired Crowson in the United Kingdom, which later became Bel UK. That same year, it established a subsidiary in Switzerland, later becoming Bel Suisse.[16]. In 1974, Bel established a subsidiary in Morocco, later known as SIALIM.[16]

In 1976, it acquired the Société anonyme des fermiers réunis (SAFR) and its subsidiaries, including the Rouy and Le Roitelet brands.[16]. The following year, it acquired an Italian company, later to become known as Bel Cademartori and launched Mini Babybel.[18] In 1978, Bel acquired a company in Sweden, later becoming Bel Sverige (Bel Sweden).

During the 1980s, Bel continued its international expansion through acquisitions and the establishment of subsidiaries, particularly in Europe and North America.[16] By 1989, it acquired Adler in Germany, later becoming Bel Adler (Edelcreme).[16]

It then launched Mini Bonbel in 1990.[18] Between the 1980s and the 2000s, Bel continued its international expansion through acquisitions and the establishment of subsidiaries, particularly in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Egypt and the United States. Several local companies and brands, including Maredsous, Limiano and Kaukauna, were integrated into the group. During the same period, Bel also divested several non-core businesses, including the Picon cheese dairy and certain Manchego cheese production activities.[18]

In 1998, Bel established a subsidiary in Egypt (Bel Egypt)[19] and acquired the Middle East Food Industry, later becoming Bel Egypt Food Company. It also acquired Kraft Chorzele in Poland, later to becoming Bel Polska (Bel Poland) and launched Mini Babybel in Maasdam.[18]

By 2000, it acquired Želetavská Sýrárna in the Czech Republic (Želetava, Apetitto) and Zempmilk in Slovakia (Karička).[18] The following year, in 2001, it established a subsidiary in Algeria, known as Bel Algeria.[20]

Throughout the early 2000s, Bel continued its international expansion in Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Syria and Tunisia.[18] In 2002, it also acquired the assets of Merkts and Owl's Nest brands in the United States.

That same year, Bel strengthened its European presence through the acquisition of the Dutch Leerdammer Group from Royal Wessanen, together with its subsidiaries in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Czech Republic. [21]

In 2003, it terminated the Manchego activities through its Queserías Ibéricas subsidiary. Two years later, in 2005, it terminated the activities carried out under the Cademartori brand. Meanwhile, it established subsidiary in Syria, known as Bel Syria. In 2007, Bel also acquired the Boursin brand from Unilever for approximately €400 million.[22]

By 2009, it had changed its corporate logo.[18]

Diversification and continued expansion

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Since the 2010s, Bel has diversified its business into fruit-based products and plant-based alternatives, notably through acquisitions and the development of new brands.

In 2015, it acquired 70% of Safilait, a cheese company in Morocco.[23]

In October 2016, Bel acquired a 65% stake in the MOM Group for €850 million. MOM owns several food brands, including Mont Blanc and Materne.[24]

In March 2021, Bel announced an agreement with Lactalis under which it sold the Leerdammer brand, along with its German, Italian, and Ukrainian subsidiaries, in exchange for the 23.16% stake that Lactalis held in Bel.[25]

Bel's corporate foundation

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Bel's Corporate Foundation was created in May 2008 by the Bel group and its reference shareholder, Unibel. The Bel Foundation was created to promote a balanced diet and preserving the environment, as far as it is required for a healthy diet. Rather than support big initiatives, the Foundation supports a number of projects around the world.

Lab'Bel

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Lab'Bel's logo

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, and Silvia Guerra, an art critic and exhibit curator.

Since its founding, Bel has supported artists such as illustrators Benjamin Rabier, who designed the Laughing Cow, Francisque Poulbot, known for his iconic drawings of Parisian children, and celebrated animator Paul Grimault. Bel sponsors a museum dedicated to its legendary cow – La Maison de La vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow Museum), in Lons-le-Saunier – which also houses special events hosted by Lab'Bel.

Bel Group brands

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Newsroom > Béatrice de Noray joins the Bel Group Executive Committee as Chief Growth Officer". Groupe Bel. 31 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Leadership Team Bios". Bel Brands USA. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. ↑ 2025 Annual Results (PDF) (Report). Bel Group. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Lyubomirova, Teodora (7 April 2026). "How Bel defied global snacking headwinds". FoodNavigator. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 2021 Annual Report (PDF) (Report) (in French). Bel Group. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "UNIBEL". Euronext. 2023-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  7. ↑ "UNIBEL". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  8. ↑ "Le groupe BEL se tourne vers l'éco responsable". Entreprendre (in French). 23 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bel : succès de l'offre publique de retrait". Le Figaro (in French). 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Shareholding". Bel Group (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Actionnariat d'Unibel". TradingSat (in French). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Cécile Béliot nommée directrice générale de Bel". LSA (in French). Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Le groupe Bel dissocie sa gouvernance, Cécile Béliot devient directrice générale". Le Figaro (in French). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. ↑ Bembaron, Elsa (10 August 2012). "La Vache qui rit, héroïne de la Première Guerre mondiale". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  15. ↑ Bel Foodservice Europe Company history
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Fromageries Bel". International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 23. St. James Press. 1998. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Kiri". Le Groupe Bel. Archived from the original on 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "160 ans d'histoire". Groupe Bel (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Bel Egypt Food Company". Bel Egypt. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Fromagerie BEL ALGERIE, Spa". Kompass. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "Leerdammer intègre les Fromageries Bel". LSA (in French). 22 September 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Unilever and Le Groupe Bel reach agreement on sale of Boursin" (Press release). Unilever. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Le groupe Bel rachète la troisième laiterie marocaine[permanent dead link], Boursorama, 29/05/2015 [dead link]
  24. ↑ "Le groupe fromager Bel conclut le rachat de MOM". Le Figaro (in French). 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  25. ↑ "Bel reprend son destin en main en cédant Leerdammer à Lactalis". Les Echos (in French). 2021-03-19. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  26. 1 2 Chrisafis, Angelique (2012-08-08). "Babybel maker apologises for 'clumsy' gaffe". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
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