Groupe Bel, the French cheese firm behind brands including Boursin and Leerdammer, has reported a 9% increase in first-quarter sales.

Bel booked sales of EUR647.6m (US$839.4m), 9.1% higher on the first quarter of 2011, and reported increased revenues across its regions.

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 saw the fastest growth in the emerging markets of Africa and the Middle East but it also increased sales in western Europe. Bel said it had achieved “remarkable” sales growth in the region of 3.7%. Sales in Eastern Europe rose 11.4% under what the company called “depressed economic conditions”.

Bel, which saw annual profits slide by more than 17% in 2011, did not disclose earnings figures for the quarter.

Its guidance for 2012 remained cautious. “Market conditions remain uncertain, with a lackluster economic situation in Europe in particular, and instability in some Group markets,” Bel said. “Despite this environment, the group expects to further its development going forward, while maintaining its strong balance sheet.”

Click here for the full statement.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

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