Bel invests $200 million to double Babybel output in South Dakota
Bel Group has broken ground on a $200 million expansion of its Babybel production facility in Brookings, S.D. The project that will double the plant’s annual capacity from 10,000 to 20,000 tons — all due to sustained consumer demand for portion-sized dairy snacks.
Bel said the investment will create about 150 new jobs and double milk sourcing from American dairy farms, primarily in South Dakota and neighboring states. The company described the project as one of its largest manufacturing investments in the United States.
Peter McGuinness, CEO of Bel North America, said Babybel demand in the U.S. has been driven by shoppers looking for convenient, portion-sized dairy snacks with a short ingredient list and complete protein.
Bel has manufactured in the United States for more than 50 years and said the U.S. is now its largest market, accounting for 33% of global sales and more than $1.2 billion in annual retail sales. Bel said its U.S. business doubled between 2018 and 2024, and the company aims to double it again in the coming years.
The Brookings project follows Bel’s recent $10 million expansion of its Little Chute, Wis., facility, which the company said added 50 jobs and increased domestic production capacity.
