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Bel Brands USA, the American subsidiary of French cheese manufacturer Groupe Bel, has broken ground on a $200 million expansion of its production facility in Brookings, South Dakota.
The project involves adding 100,000 sq m to the existing site to double production capacity for Mini Babybel cheese. Currently producing 1.6 million individual wheels per day, the plant is expected to reach a daily output of over 3 million wheels once the expansion is fully operational in 2027. According to reports, the project is supported by a $1.6 million land grant and a $5 million loan from local authorities.The investment aims to address a projected “capacity cliff” and capitalise on a growing “protein boom”. Peter McGuinness, CEO of Bel Brands USA, noted that while current capacity is sufficient for 2026, the company would hit a production wall by 2027 without the expansion.
The project also supports the company’s strategy to meet rising demand for high-protein, portion-controlled snacks, such as the recently launched Babybel Pro.
Commenting on the investment, McGuinness said: “Babybel® continues to see strong demand in the U.S., driven by consumers seeking convenient, portion-sized dairy snacks made with a few ingredients and delivering complete protein. Expanding our Brookings facility allows us to meet that continued demand while investing in American manufacturing, local jobs and the Brookings community”.
Source: Groupe Bel / Brookings Register / Food Dive / Dairy Herd
