Groupe Bel

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, 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.

“The Laughing Cow”, “Babybel”, “Kiri”, “Leerdammer”, “Boursin” are Bel’s five core brands that are distributed on five continents. As of 2011, the Bel Group is established in 31 countries and its products are sold in over 120 countries.

History

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 foundation logo

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.

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.

Lab'Bel

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 had a tradition of artistic outreach, particularly towards graphic artists, including 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.

Lab’Bel supports contemporary art through a variety of actions.

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; and to guide projects in the medium-term by supporting artists in their production processes (study tours, networking, etc.).

The first exhibit sponsored by Lab'Bel, Rewind, was held in 2010 and brought together a series of contemporary works on the theme of childhood.

See also

External links