For the ninth consecutive year, the APBO (Association of Bel Milk Producers of the West) and Bel Group have reached an agreement that, once again, marks progress in supporting the dairy sector, in a challenging context for the entire industry. With a projected average price of €500/1,000 L for conventional milk and €570/1,000 L for organic milk on a volume of 440 million liters, this agreement demonstrates a strong commitment from both partners to provide security and visibility to farmers, in a climate marked by multiple crises.

Since 2017, the partnership between APBO and Bel, which predates the EGAlim laws, stands out for its ambition and longevity. The APBO and Bel announce the signing of their annual agreement for 2026, reflecting an exceptional partnership in the dairy world, built on duration and mutual trust.

In a particularly difficult context for farmers, facing major health crises, climatic hazards, and economic tensions, the two parties have reached an agreement that secures and provides annual visibility to the 640 member farms by setting a purchase price and milk volume for the entire upcoming year.

Beyond the annual negotiation of prices and volumes, this partnership is part of a long-term dynamic. It aims to provide fairer remuneration for farmers and supports concrete changes in agricultural practices to promote healthier and more sustainable food. Thanks to ongoing work since the first agreements, all participating farms supply 100% French milk, from cows with access to pasture at least 150 days a year and fed with non-GMO feed (<0.9%). This responsible approach enhances the value of Mon BB Lait® milk used by Bel in the production of Babybel®, Kiri®, and Boursin®.

The Mon BB Lait® Durable program, launched on June 1, 2025, accelerates this ambition by supporting and financially rewarding decarbonization efforts on farms. 93% of farmers are already engaged in at least one of the eight levers of this collective initiative, which reconciles the economic viability of farms with environmental transition.

A Price Increase That Better Reflects Field Realities

APBO and Bel are strongly committed to securing farmers involved in the producer organization. The 2026 agreement features several significant advances:

• Better consideration of changes in production costs, via the IPAMPA index, in the base price calculation method.
• An increase in the labor component, up to €6.9/1,000 L.
• A temporary bonus of €4.48/1,000 L to support farmers facing climatic and health difficulties in recent months.
• An estimated average bonus of €17/1,000 L thanks to the Mon BB Lait® Durable decarbonization program, deployed since June 1, 2025.

For 2026, the projected average price for Mon BB Lait® Durable 38/32 conventional milk will be €500/1,000 L, an increase of €15, and will consist of:

• €483/1,000 L including the €17/1,000 L bonus, received by all farmers, related to non-GMO feed (<0.9%) and cows’ access to pasture.
• €17/1,000 L estimated average bonus from the Mon BB Lait® Durable program.

This increase is a strong move in a global dairy market, trending downward. It reflects the shared will of APBO and Bel to preserve farmers’ income and enable them to continue investing.

Organic Milk Receives the Same Level of Commitment

The same care is given to organic milk, which also benefits from labor revaluation and a temporary bonus. Added to this are the renewal of the CE2 environmental certification bonus and an average bonus for the protein autonomy lever via self-consumed concentrates.

The projected average price for Mon BB Lait® organic milk is thus raised to €570/1,000 L, showing a new increase, despite a structural crisis in the organic market for the past three years. This performance demonstrates Bel’s recognition of the value created by organic farmers and their contribution to sustainable food, despite this difficult context.

Increased Volumes Reinforce Farmers’ Security

Bel’s needs are increasing for 2026. The milk collection target is set at 440 million liters, an increase of 9 million liters. Farmers will benefit from the negotiated price on this entire volume, which will be used by Bel to support the positive momentum of all its brands and their growth.

In a context where many farmers struggle to find stable buyers, this volume security is a major asset for APBO farms and demonstrates Bel’s confidence in this partnership, providing visibility for member farmers regarding their outlets.

Yoann Lézé, President of APBO: “This agreement required a lot of work and commitment from APBO teams, administrators, and employees. It is fundamental for us, in this difficult context, to continue providing security and visibility to our members for a more serene future. This is our primary function as a producer organization: always working on all fronts, prices, volumes, and the evolution of specifications. The Bel Group is aligned with the need to support farmers in better valuing their work, and once again, we conclude with an agreement against the general trend, with a strong move to consolidate the base price calculation method and an increasing average price.”

Anne-Sophie CARRIER, General Manager of Bel France: “This agreement reflects the trust built over nine years between Bel and APBO. In a particularly tense agricultural context, we are making the strong choice to increase the milk price and our collection level to consolidate our project for a high-performing and sustainable food transition, with better-paid producers supported in transforming their model. We will continue to enhance this committed and value-creating partnership, which contributes to French food sovereignty and guarantees healthy, quality products for our consumers.”

Summary Table: Prices and Volumes Mon BB Lait®

• Projected average price Mon BB Lait® Durable 2026 for conventional milk: €500/1,000 L (38/32)
  • Details: €483/1,000 L including the €17/1,000 L bonus, received by all farmers, related to non-GMO feed (<0.9%) and cows’ access to pasture + €17/1,000 L estimated average bonus from the Mon BB Lait® Durable program
• Projected average price 2026 for Mon BB Lait® Organic: €570/1,000 L (38/32)
  • Details: €562.90/1,000 L base price + €6/1,000 L CE2 bonus + €1.1/1,000 L estimated average bonus for the protein autonomy lever via self-consumed concentrates
• Volume covered by this 2026 agreement: 440,000,000 L

About APBO

The Association of Bel Producers of the West (APBO) is a Producer Organization recognized by public authorities since 2012. It now represents nearly 640 farms, all milk producers under contract with Fromageries Bel Production France. The collection area covers six departments: Orne, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe, and Mayenne. Since 2012, APBO has signed a framework contract with the Bel Group. APBO owns and guarantees the specifications for the Mon BB Lait® Durable differentiation approach.

APBO press contacts : agence Communicante

Véronique Spaletta - [email protected] – 06 87 19 07 [email protected]

Charlotte Julien - [email protected] – 06 82 62 40 65

About the Bel Group

The Bel Group is a major player in the healthy dairy, fruit and plant-based snacks segment. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands includes The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Babybel®, Boursin®, Nurishh®, Pom’Potes®, and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as some 20 local brands. Together, these brands helped the Group generate sales of €3.7 billion in 2024.

Approximately 11,000 employees across 60 subsidiaries around the world contribute to the Group’s mission of providing healthier and more responsible food for all. Bel products are prepared at 30 production sites and distributed in more than 120 countries.

www.groupe-bel.com

Bel press contacts: Havas Paris

Agathe Gauthier – [email protected] _06 78 05 57 64

Ulysse Betschart – [email protected] – 06 07 14 77 28