Bel Group has hired former Impossible Foods' chief Peter McGuinness to lead the French dairy major's North America operations. As CEO of Bel North America, McGuinness will oversee offices in New York City, Chicago and Montreal, as well as five manufacturing plants in the US and Canada. His responsibilities will include “accelerating growth, advancing M&A and breakthrough innovation, strengthening the company's local footprint, and building a more sustainable and performance-focused food business”, the da ...

Core Insights - Bel Group is expanding its production of The Laughing Cow cheese in Spain, investing €1.5 million ($1.7 million) to add a 600m² building with two new packaging lines, which will increase annual output by 15% to nearly 7,000 tonnes, equivalent to about 500 million portions [1] - The Ulzama plant, operational since 1968, produces cheese portions for Spain and Portugal and employs around 140 people. The facility has also implemented a biomass boiler to replace fossil fuels, reducing CO₂ emissions by 500 tonnes annually, marking a significant step in Bel's decarbonisation strategy [2] - Bel's chief operations officer emphasized the company's dual focus on sustainability and profitability, highlighting the Ulzama site's transition to renewable energy and its expansion plans [3] Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Bel Group reported a 5.4% decline in consolidated net profit to €45.8 million, while recurring operating income fell by 19.3% to €125 million. However, consolidated net sales increased by 3.2% organically to €1.86 billion, driven by higher volumes and price increases that countered inflation in raw materials [4][5] - The company's core brands performed well, with Kiri sales rising by 8.2%, Mini Babybel by 6.1%, and Boursin by 7.3%, despite challenges from geopolitical tensions and increased consumer price sensitivity [6] Strategic Initiatives - Bel has set a target for all Babybel products to be packaged in recyclable paper by 2027, reflecting its commitment to sustainability [4] - The company acquired a 22.5% stake in Indonesian cheese maker Mulia Boga Raya, aiming to enhance cheese consumption in Indonesia and develop tailored innovations [4]