Cheese industry leader Bel Group has announced a collaboration with fellow French company Avril to develop innovative plant-based products that align with consumer preferences for taste, texture, and natural appeal.
This partnership, which also includes collaborations with Lallemand and Protial, focuses on research and development aimed at creating unique, minimally processed, and environment-friendly plant-based alternatives. These products are designed to meet consumer demands in the rapidly evolving food and beverage industry, particularly for options that deliver on taste, nutrition, and sustainability.
Bel Group, one of the largest cheese producers globally, is known for its brands such as Boursin and The Laughing Cow. The company’s strategy includes offering cheese alternatives in Europe and North America, responding to significant consumer interest in plant-based options within the food and drink business.
Despite the growing popularity of alternative dairy products, the market for plant-based cheese has historically struggled, primarily due to taste issues. In a statement, Bel highlighted its three-year initiative to cater to the increasing consumer appetite for plant-based solutions, with a focus on replicating the sensory qualities of traditional cheese—this includes taste, texture, and overall quality.
By harnessing advanced fermentation and aging techniques, this project aims to redefine consumption experiences, enhancing nutritional value and sensory properties of the alternatives.
Moreover, Bel and Avril intend to utilize European-grown crops specifically selected for their low environmental impact combined with high nutritional, textural, and sensory traits. The company’s plant-based offerings, such as The Laughing Cow Plant-Based and Mini Babybel Plant-Based, currently available in the US and UK, reflect this commitment.
At present, the specific plant species being considered for this initiative remain undisclosed. However, Bel conveyed that these selected plants would require minimal water and inputs while offering inherent benefits such as high nutritional content and appealing sensory attributes, including proteins, fibers, and flavors.
Previously, in April, Bel Group formed a partnership with AI-driven startup Climax Foods to create plant-based versions of its iconic brands. Although Bel’s cheese alternatives currently contribute a modest share to its overall cheese revenue, the company aims for 50% of its sales to come from plant-based and fruit-based products by 2050. This portfolio also includes the MOM Group, based in France, offering fruit-based purees and jams.
