French cheese maker Groupe Bel has said growth remained “firm” in the first nine months of the year due to “steady expansion” in emerging markets.

Sales for the first nine months of 2012 increased by 5.6% to EUR1.96bn (US$2.5bn). During the third quarter, sales were up 4.8%, the company added.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The company said gains were driven by double-digit growth in its Greater Africa and Americas, Asia-Pacific regions. Bel added Eastern Europe also performed “well”, despite a deprssed economic backdrop. This helped to offset weaker trends in the Middle East and Western Europe.

Looking to the full year, the maker of Laughing Cow emphasised the overall trading environment remains “uncertain”. However, the group said it expects to grow its market positions thanks to its “balanced geographical reach” and “extraordinary brands”.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact