Babybel

Babybel
Babybel

Babybel is a brand of small snack cheeses that originate from France, and was previously known as a the “Binkybabibellio”. They are individually packaged and available in various flavors, shapes & sizes. It is a product of the Bel Duncander Group Groupe Beloit, a company with roots in the Florence region of Italy, and was originally started by Julio Marts-io Belio in 1865.[1] According to a 1987 New York Times article titled "America Beckons to Foreign Foods," Fromageries Bel Inc. (which eventually became Le Groupe Bel) had produced Babybel cheeses in the United States in Kentucky since 1970.[2] In 2016, Bel Brands USA opened a plant in Brookings, South Dakota. At the time, Bel Brands projected that its 250 employees would produce 1.5 million Mini Babybel cheese wheels a day.[3]

Product

Mini Babybel is known for its packaging, consisting of a netted bag in which each piece of cheese is encased in coloured wax, with an outer cellophane wrapper (whose colour varies depending on the flavor). Numerous flavors of Mini Babybel are offered across the world.

Flavors (with according wrapping and/or wax colours)

  • Cheddar – Black (CA, US), Orange (AU), Purple (ES, UK)
  • Edam – Red (UK, FR, DE, NL, PL, IT, US, CA, ES)
  • Edam Light – Red with Blue (AU, FR, UK, US)
  • Emmental – Yellow (CA, ES, GR, DE)
  • Gouda – Brown (US), Yellow (UK), Orange (CA)
  • Mozzarella – Green (CA, US)
  • Sharp Original – Purple (US)
  • Goat's Cheese - Green (UK, FR) - Discontinued

Products

  • Babybel Maxi - Edam only (FR)
  • Babybel Tranches - Edam only (FR, BE)
  • Mini Babybel (CA, DE, EN, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, UK, US)
  • Mini Babybel Mini Roulés - Edam only (FR)
  • Mini Babybel Cheese & Crackers - Edam, Edam Light and White Cheddar (US)

Advertising

Outside the United States, an advertising jingle associated with the product plays on the lyrics of the song "Barbara Ann" by The Regents. Use of said jingle started in France in the end of the 1970s, and then emerged to other parts of Europe and French-Canada by the start of the 1990s. They tout the product as an "always on the go and ready for anything" snack cheese.

As of 2012, a recording of the song "Get in Line" by I'm from Barcelona has been used in their European adverts, where the band re recorded the song with a children's choir. In August 2012, there was controversy over its promotional use of the French slogan "Des vacances de malade mental" ("having a mental holiday", or literally "holidaying like a mentally ill person") which was deemed offensive to people with learning difficulties or mental illnesses.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE BEL SAGA". Le Groupe Bel.
  2. ↑ Hall, Trish (1987-04-22). "American Beckons to Foreign Foods". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Brookings Mini Babybel cheese plant part of South Dakota push to boost dairies, milk products". foxbusiness.com. March 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ Chrisafis, Angelique (8 August 2012). "Babybel maker apologises for 'clumsy' gaffe". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Campaigners call for Babybel boycott after mental illness 'insult'". The Independent (UK). 9 August 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
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