Babybel
Encyclopedia
Babybel is a brand of cheese
sold internationally. The Bel Group
introduced Babybel in 1952 and in 1977 Mini Babybel was launched in France
. In 1979, Mini Babybel was launched in the U.S. under the Laughing Cow umbrella brand
. As of 2011, Mini Babybel is eaten in North America
, South America
, Europe
, Africa
, Australia
and Asia
. As of March 2011, 75% of all Mini Babybel cheese is eaten outside of France.
The brand is marketed as a natural, convenient snack
. Flavors distributed in the U.S. are created in Leitchfield, Kentucky
, and at times in France.
Mini Babybel is known for its unique packaging which consists of a netted bag in which each piece is encased in red wax. Numerous flavors of Mini Babybel are offered across the world. The original Mini Babybel, an Edam variety, is encased in red wax
. Other varieties offered in Europe are available such as Mini Babybel Light (diet version of the Edam variety) in white wax with a light blue label, Emmental
in yellow wax, Gouda in brown wax, Goat in green wax and Cheddar in purple wax. There are currently eight flavors offered in the U.S.: Original, Sharp Original, Light, Bonbel, Cheddar, White Cheddar, Swiss, and Gouda., although it had already been sold through all the major supermarkets in the UK as an addition to children's lunchbox.
Mini Babybel original is now available in Kosher and Halal varieties in the UK. It is slightly larger in 22grm wheels and in nets of 5. Tesco and now Sainsbury's are the first major UK supermarket groups to see its potential and stock it where they sell Kosher ranges
associated with the product plays on the lyrics of the song Barbara Ann
, written by Fred Fassert
and recorded by The Regents
, and later a hit for The Beach Boys
. They tout the product as an "Always on-the-go and ready for anything" snack cheese due to its red wax wrapper.
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
sold internationally. The Bel Group
Groupe Bel
Bel Group or Groupe Bel is a multinational cheese marketer centered in France.The Bel Group, based in the 8th district of Paris, 16 boulevard Malesherbes, manufactures and distributes processed and semi-processed cheeses, frequently packaged in individual portions...
introduced Babybel in 1952 and in 1977 Mini Babybel was launched in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1979, Mini Babybel was launched in the U.S. under the Laughing Cow umbrella brand
Umbrella brand
An umbrella brand is an overarching brand used across multiple related products. Umbrella branding is also known as family branding. It contrasts with individual product branding, in which each product in a portfolio is given a unique brand name and identity....
. As of 2011, Mini Babybel is eaten in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. As of March 2011, 75% of all Mini Babybel cheese is eaten outside of France.
The brand is marketed as a natural, convenient snack
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
. Flavors distributed in the U.S. are created in Leitchfield, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and at times in France.
Product
Mini Babybel is known for its unique packaging which consists of a netted bag in which each piece is encased in red wax. Numerous flavors of Mini Babybel are offered across the world. The original Mini Babybel, an Edam variety, is encased in red wax
Wax
thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents...
. Other varieties offered in Europe are available such as Mini Babybel Light (diet version of the Edam variety) in white wax with a light blue label, Emmental
Emmental (cheese)
Emmental or Emmentaler is a cheese from Switzerland. It is sometimes known as Swiss cheese in North America, Australia and New Zealand, although Swiss cheese does not always imply Emmentaler....
in yellow wax, Gouda in brown wax, Goat in green wax and Cheddar in purple wax. There are currently eight flavors offered in the U.S.: Original, Sharp Original, Light, Bonbel, Cheddar, White Cheddar, Swiss, and Gouda., although it had already been sold through all the major supermarkets in the UK as an addition to children's lunchbox.
Mini Babybel original is now available in Kosher and Halal varieties in the UK. It is slightly larger in 22grm wheels and in nets of 5. Tesco and now Sainsbury's are the first major UK supermarket groups to see its potential and stock it where they sell Kosher ranges
Advertising
Outside the U.S., an advertising jingleJingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
associated with the product plays on the lyrics of the song Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann
"Barbara Ann" is a song written by Fred Fassert and performed by The Regents in 1961. The recording reached a peak position of #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart....
, written by Fred Fassert
Fred Fassert
Fred Fassert is most famously known as the writer of the popular song "Barbara Ann," which was originally written for the band that he was in at the time, The Regents. In 1961, the song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
and recorded by The Regents
The Regents
The Regents were an American doo-wop vocal group from New York, operating in the late 1950s and early 1960s.They are best known for writing and recording the hit "Barbara Ann" in 1961, which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
, and later a hit for The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. They tout the product as an "Always on-the-go and ready for anything" snack cheese due to its red wax wrapper.
External links
- Mini Babybel websites: France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, United States,
- Groupe Bel official website