From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Groupe Bel
Groupe Bel
Bel Group or Groupe Bel (in French) (Euronext: FBEL) is a • 1978: Acquisition of a company in Sweden that will
multinational cheese marketer centered in France. become Bel Sverige (Bel Sweden).
The Bel Group, based in the 8th district of Paris, 16 • 1989: Acquisition of the company Adler in Germany
boulevard Malesherbes, manufactures and distributes that will become Bel Adler (Edelcreme®).
processed and semi-processed cheeses, frequently pack- • 1990: Launch of “Mini Bonbel”.
aged in individual portions. The company “Établisse- • 1991: Acquisition of the company Maredsous in Bel-
ments Jules Bel” was founded in 1865 in Orgelet in the gium.
Department of the Jura. This international family-owned • 1994: Acquisition of the company Cademartori in
group transformed a traditional product, cheese, using Italy, which became Bel Cademartori in 2001 and of the
innovative concepts based on enjoyment and simplicity. company Queserías Ibéricas in Spain.
“The Laughing Cow”, “Babybel”, “Kiri”, “Leerdammer”, • 1995: Launch of “Pik & Croq’®”. Creation of “Pick and
“Boursin” are Bel’s five core brands that are distributed Mix” with the launch of “6 au Choix®”.
on five continents. Every day, more than 33 million por- • 1996: Acquisition of the company Lacto Ibérica in
tions of Bel cheeses are consumed worldwide. As of 2011, Portugal (Limiano, Terra Nostra) and the company
the Bel Group is established in 31 countries and its prod- Kaukauna in the USA that will become Bel Kaukauna.
ucts are sold worldwide in over 120 countries. • 1998: Creation of a subsidiary in Egypt (Bel Egypt)
and acquisition of Middle East Food Industry that will be-
History come the Bel Egypt Food Company. Acquisition of Kraft
Chorzele in Poland that will become Bel Polska (Bel
• 1865: Creation of “Établissements Jules Bel” in Orgelet Poland). Launch of yellow “Mini Babybel” in Maasdam.
(Department of the Jura). • 2000: Acquisition of the company Zeletavska Syrar-
• 1921: Registration of the brand “The laughing Cow”. na in the Czech Republic (Zeletava, Apetitto) and of the
• 1929: Bel creates its first subsidiary in the UK. company Zempmilk in Slovakia (Karicka).
• 1933: Creation of a subsidiary in Belgium. • 2001: Creation of a subsidiary in Algeria (Bel Alge-
• 1947: Launch of “Bonbel”. ria).
• 1950: Acquisition of “Port Salut” created in 1816. • 2002: Acquisition of the assets Merkts and Owl’s Nest
• 1952: Launch of “Babybel”. by Bel Kaukauna in the USA. Acquisition of Syrokrem in
• 1959: Creation of a subsidiary in Germany. Slovakia. Creation of subsidiaries in Greece (Bel Hellas
• 1960: Launch of “La vache qui rit” unflavored cock- Cheese Company) and in Tunisia (Bel Tunisia). Termina-
tail cubes. (that will become Apéricube® in 1976). tion of SAFR’s soft cheese production. Acquisition of the
• 1965: Creation of a subsidiary in Spain that will be- companies in the Dutch Leerdammer Group and its Euro-
come Bel España. (Bel Spain). pean subsidiaries based in Germany, France, Italy, the
• 1966: Launch of “Kiri”. United Kingdom, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
• 1967: Creation of a subsidiary in the Netherlands • 2003: Termination of activities of Manchego of the
that will become Bel Nederland (Bel Netherlands). Bel subsidiary Queserías Ibéricas.
• 1968: Les Fromageries Picon join the Group. • 2005: Termination of activities carried out under the
• 1970: Creation of a subsidiary in the USA. Cademartori brand. Creation of a subsidiary in Syria (Bel
• 1972: Acquisition of the company Samos. Launch of Syria).
Sylphide. • 2000: Acquisition of Fromagerie Boursin from
• 1973: Acquisition of Crowson in the UK, that will be- Unilever.
come Bel UK and creation of a subsidiary in Switzerland • 2009: Change of logo.
that will become Bel Suisse (Bel Switzerland).
• 1974: Creation of a subsidiary in Morocco that will
become SIALIM.
Bel Group Brands
• 1976: Integration of the “Société anonyme des fer- • Adler-Edelcrème
miers réunis"(SAFR) and its subsidiaries into the Bel • Apéricube (PartyCubes, Belcube, Cheese&Fun) (1960)
Group. • BabyBel (1952)
• 1977: Acquisition of an Italian company that will be- • Bonbel (1947)
come Bel Cademartori. Launch of Mini Babybel. • Boursin (2007)
• Cantadou
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Groupe Bel
• Cousteron analyses and selects projects that answer the Founda-
• Karička tion’s criteria throughout the year. The Selection and
• Karper (2006) Project Follow-up Committee presents these projects to
• Kaukauna the Board of Directors, follows up the projects that have
• Kiri (1966). been approved by the Board of Directors and ensures that
• Leerdammer (2002) they are implemented.
• Limiano For more information on the Foundation’s commit-
• Maredsous tees
• Merkts
• Picon Submitting a project
• Port Salut Download the grant application. Your application will
• Price’s be submitted to the Selection and Project Follow-up
• Régal Picon Committee for possible selection by the Board of Direc-
• Smetanito / Želatava tors.
• Sylphide
• Syrokrém For more information
• Terra Nostra Consult the foundation’s website www.fondation-
• Toastinette bel.org
• The Laughing Cow (1921) Download the Foundation’s activity report.
• Le Véritable Port Salut (1950)
• Wispride
Lab’Bel
Lab’Bel is Bel’s Art Laboratory, inaugurated in the spring
Bel’s corporate foundation of 2010, and sponsored by the Group and its main share-
Bel’s Corporate Foundation was created in May 2008 by holder, Unibel.
the Bel group and its reference shareholder, Unibel.
• Bel’s foundation logo
Objective
The Bel Foundation acts on behalf of children and
their well-being around the world, by promoting a balan-
ced 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. • Lab’Bel’s logo
Find out more about the projects supported by the Heading up Lab’Bel are artist Laurent Fiévet, a member of
Foundation. the Bel family whose photographic works have been the
subject of numerous exhibits and events, and Silvia Guer-
How the Foundation works ra, an art critic and exhibit curator.
The Bel Corporate Foundation is led by two commit- Origin
tees: the Board of Directors and the Selection and Project Since its founding, Bel has had a tradition of artistic
Follow-up Committee. The Board of Directors defines and outreach, particularly towards graphic artists, including
guides the Foundation’s strategy and examines funding illustrators Benjamin Rabier, who designed the Laughing
applications twice a year. It is made up of representatives Cow, and Francisque Poulbot, known for his iconic draw-
of the Bel and Unibel founders, employees and quality ings of Parisian children, and celebrated animator Paul
controllers. The Selection and Project Follow-up Com- Grimault. The Laughing Cow is featured in collections at
mittee, made up of employees and outside persons,
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Groupe Bel
the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Museum of Ad- Mission
vertising, among others. The Art Laboratory has three main missions:
Now, Bel is expanding its cultural vision with a Mu- - To assemble a collection of works, created exclu-
seum dedicated to its legendary cow – La Maison de La sively in the year 2000 and beyond, that correspond to
vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow Museum), in Lons-le- Lab’Bel’s philosophy and thematic focuses.
Saunier – which will also house special events hosted by - To organize events and art exhibits. The first exhib-
Lab’Bel. it, Rewind, held in 2010, brought together a series of con-
Aim temporary works on the theme of childhood.
Lab’Bel is committed to supporting contemporary art - To guide projects in the medium-term by support-
through a variety of actions that reflect the Bel culture ing artists in their production processes (study tours,
and philosophy: innovation, accessibility, sharing, hu- networking, etc.).
mor, ingenuity and wit.
Bel’s commitment to art is a natural extension of its
desire to bring smiles to children and families around the
External links
world, to support the artistic community, and to share • Le Groupe Bel
the benefits of art with the broader public.
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Categories:
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• Cheesemakers
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