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 sold in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. As of March 2011, 75% of all Mini Babybel cheese is eaten outside France.

The brand is marketed as a natural, convenient snack. Flavors distributed in the U.S. are created in Leitchfield, Kentucky, Brookings, South Dakota, and at times in France.

Product

Mini Babybel is known for its unique packaging, consisting of a netted bag in which each piece of cheese is encased in wax, with an outer cellophane wrapper. Numerous flavors of Mini Babybel are offered across the world. The original Mini Babybel and US distributed Mini Babybel, an Edam variety, is encased in red wax. Other varieties offered in Europe and Canada are available such as Mini Babybel Light (diet version of the Edam variety) in red wax with a light blue label, Emmental in yellow wax, Gouda in yellow wax with an orange wrapper, Goat in green wax, and Cheddar in purple wax.

There are currently eight flavors offered in the US: Original, Sharp Original, Light, Bonbel, Cheddar, White Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Gouda. Original is wrapped in red, Light in white with light blue packaging, Bonbel in yellow, Cheddar in orange, Gouda in brown, Sharp Original in purple, Mozzarella in green, and White Cheddar in white with cream packaging.[1]

Advertising

Outside the U.S., an advertising jingle associated with the product plays on the lyrics of the song "Barbara Ann" by The Regents. Use of said jingle started in France in the late 1970s and then emerged to other parts of Europe by the early 1990s. They tout the product as an "always on the go and ready for anything" snack cheese.

As of 2012, a recording of the song "Get in Line" by I'm from Barcelona has been used in their European adverts, where the band re-recorded the song with a children's choir.

In 2012, there was controversy over its promotional use of the French slogan "Des vacances de malade mental" ("having a mental holiday", or literally "holidaying like a mentally ill person") which was deemed offensive to people with learning difficulties or mental illnesses.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ "Mini Babybel Cheese Wheels: Flavors". Bel Brands USA. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  2. ↑ Chrisafis, Angelique (8 August 2012). "Babybel maker apologises for 'clumsy' gaffe". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Campaigners call for Babybel boycott after mental illness 'insult'". The Independent (UK). 9 August 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2013.

External links

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