Plant-based Babybel cheese arrives in Canada as company looks to expand dairy-free offering

Bel Canada Group is bringing its plant-based Babybel cheese to Canada as it looks to achieve a 50-50 split between dairy and fruit- and plant-based products by 2030. 

The news follows the company’s acquisition of Mom Group, makers of GoGo squeeZ fruit pouches, the acquisition of All In Foods, and the launch of Nurishh and Boursin dairy-free products in Canada. 

“We are always attentive to the needs and expectations of consumers. This is at the heart of our  innovation strategy. With this in mind, we are pursuing our sustainable strategy with the launch of Babybel Plant-Based, a dairy-free, certified plant-based and non-GMO product,” Marie-Ève Robert, president of marketing at Bel Canada Group, said in a statement. “Our goal is to offer the same unique experience we know from Babybel, but  in a plant-based version.” 

The plant-based cheese is part of Bel Canada Group’s mission to lessen its environmental impact. 

In addition to the compostable packaging used for its Babybel product line and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction of its Sorel-Tracy, Que. plant, Bel Canada Group aims to produce 90% of its products in Canada by 2023.

By 2035, the company said greenhouse gas emissions in its facilities will be reduced by 25%, aligning with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change goal of holding global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.