KEY POINTS
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$200M Brookings, S.D. expansion will double Mini Babybel cheese production capacity.
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Project will create 150 jobs and double regional milk sourcing.
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Bel Group ties need for American expansion due to recent protein and dietary demands.
CLICK HERE to get full details of this project, including any available plans, courtesy of ConstructConnect Project Intelligence.
Bel Group, the France-based titan of cheese production, has kicked off its $200 million expansion project of the Brookings, South Dakota factory that makes the popular Mini Babybel line of cheeses.
Breaking ground earlier this month, Bel Group says the project will double the facility’s annual production capacity from 10,000 to 20,000 tons. The investment marks one of the company’s largest U.S. manufacturing projects.
What are the details of Bel Group's expansion in South Dakota?
Bel Group says the Brookings expansion is expected to create about 150 new jobs and double milk sourcing from U.S. dairy farms, especially within South Dakota and neighboring states. According to the company, Bel’s U.S. business has already doubled between 2018 and 2024, and now represents 33% of the group’s global sales, or roughly $1.2 billion in annual retail sales.
What is unique about Bel Group's facility in Brookings, South Dakota?
The Brookings facility is touted as “state-of-the-art” by Bel Group, which notes it was named 2016 Plant of the Year by Dairy Foods Magazine. It also benefits from a steady pipeline of knowledgeable team members thanks to the nearby South Dakota State University Dairy and Food Science Department.
Why is Bel Group investing in growing the Brookings, South Dakota facility?
Company leadership positions the expansion project as a response to demand for protein-rich snacks and portion control, drawing from the burgeoning trend of GLP‑1 weight-loss treatments and updated U.S. food guidelines that prioritize dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
Referencing these trends, Bel North America CEO Peter McGuinness said, “Expanding our Brookings facility allows us to meet that continued demand while investing in American manufacturing, local jobs and the Brookings community.”
What Bel Group cheeses will be made at the Brookings, South Dakota plant?
The Brookings plant will continue to exclusively create varieties of the Mini Babybel cheese wheels, which it has produced since 2014.
Bel says the South Dakota project, along with a recent $10 million expansion of its Little Chute, Wisconsin facility, reflects a broader strategy to boost U.S. manufacturing, innovation in packaging and processes, and localized sourcing as it aims to double its U.S. business again in the coming years.
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