FDBusiness.com

Bel Group, a world leader in branded cheese and a major player in the healthy snack market, plans to build its first Canadian plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. The facility, which is scheduled to begin commercial production in early 2020, will be fully dedicated to producing Mini Babybel® cheese. These dairy snacks encased in small and individual shells made of red wax are very popular with Canadian consumers.

The project will require an investment of $87 million and create 170 skilled jobs spread between the Sorel-Tracy plant and Bel Canada’s Montreal head office. It will also contribute to growing demand for Canadian milk.

The project will achieve Bel Group’s goal to produce locally, to better meet the needs of the Canadian market. The Sorel-Tracy plant will incorporate the entirety of Bel Group’s industrial expertise to ensure that production meets the highest standards of quality, food safety and environmental performance.

“Bel has been marketing its products in Canada since 1957, and we know the local dairy sector’s expertise. With this new plant, we are becoming a full-fledged Quebec dairy processor,” says Catherine Thomas, President of Bel Canada.

“This cheese is currently imported and will soon be produced with 100% Canadian milk. This is good news for local dairy producers. This investment will generate employment and much-needed economic benefits in our regions,” adds Bruno Letendre, Chair of Les Producteurs de lait du Québec.

Bel Canada’s plant will be built on the site adjacent to Laiterie Chalifoux—a company established in Sorel-Tracy in 1920 with whom industrial synergies are expected.

Bel Group’s portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands, includes such products as The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Mini Babybel®, Leerdammer® and Boursin®, as well as some 20 local brands. The company generated sales of €3.3 billion  in 2017.