• Inauguration of a biomass boiler at Ulzama facility now operating with renewable energy, a major step forward in Bel’s Group decarbonization strategy.
• €1.5 million investment to expand the Ulzama facility, adding two new packaging lines and increasing production capacity by 15% for The Laughing Cow®.
• Strategic investments supporting Bel’s sustainable growth model, strengthening its local leadership and contributing to the development of healthier snacking in Spain.

Bel Group, major global player in cheese, fruit, and plant-based snacking, inaugurated a biomass boiler at its Ulzama production site in Iraizoz, Navarra and announced an expansion investment to support future growth. The ceremony took place in the presence of Mikel Irujo, Minister of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition of the Government of Navarra; Stéphane Dupays, Chief Operations Officer of Bel Group; and Iñigo Purroy, Plant Manager of Bel Ulzama, alongside representatives from local institutions, industry, and Bel teams.

A new step toward Bel Group’s decarbonization roadmap

The new biomass boiler marks an important milestone in Bel’s decarbonization strategy. Developed by BKTECH and powered by biomass pellets supplied locally by Naparpellet, the installation replaces fossil fuels with locally sourced renewable energy.

With a 700-kW power and a stationary efficiency rate above 90%, the system will cover 100% of the plant’s steam needs, cutting its total carbon footprint of 500 tons of CO₂ per year. This project represents an investment of €700,000 and allows the factory to operate entirely on renewable energy sources, including certified green electricity and on-site photovoltaic panels.

This inauguration marks Ulzama as Bel’s second international site with a biomass system after Tangier, Morocco, and the fifth worldwide. It also hosts the Group’s first pellet-based boiler, a true proof of concept that strengthens Bel’s technical capabilities to deliver on its SBTi 1.5 °C commitments.

This project reflects Bel's strategy to reduce its environmental footprint, aligning with 1,5°C scenario and contributing to factories' carbon neutrality by 2025. Several other initiatives are already underway, including two pellet biomass projects in France.

Expanding capacity to support sustainable growth

Bel Group announced a new €1.5 million investment to expand the Ulzama site with a 600 m² building housing two additional packaging lines. This expansion will increase production capacity by 15% to reach nearly 7,000 tons of the Laughing Cow® per year (around 500 million portions) and will support local employment. Construction is already underway, and the new lines are expected to be operational in the first half of 2026.

These investments in Spain reflects Bel’s commitment to building strong and long-term footprint to accelerate growth, adapt to the Spanish local market needs, and deliver on its mission to champion healthier and responsible food for all.

A long-standing presence in Spain

Bel is a family-owned business with 160 years of experience with strong local anchorage in the markets where it operates, including in Spain where it has been operating in Navarra for more than five decades, since the opening of the Ulzama factory in 1968. The site, which produces The Laughing Cow® portions for Spain and Portugal, has grown by 20% in recent years, reaching 6,000 tons per year (400 million portions). With around 140 employees between the Ulzama factory and the Madrid office, Bel Spain continues to play a strategic role in the Group’s international operations.

At this occasion, Stéphane Dupays, Chief Operations Officer of Bel Group, stated: “These two projects illustrate Bel’s two-leg model, where sustainability and profitability advance together. The Ulzama site is now powered by renewable energy and is expanding to support future growth. It’s a perfect example of how our sustainability commitments go hand in hand with industrial performance and local development. Ulzama is a model we aim to replicate across other countries.”

Iñigo Purroy, Plant Manager of Bel Ulzama, stated: “The challenge was to find a technology capable of meeting our thermal needs without relying on fossil fuels. This new system delivers energy exactly when and where it’s needed — with the required intensity and with renewable energy. It’s a technical success that allows us to maintain product quality while advancing our sustainability goals”.

Mikel Irujo, Minister of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition of the Government of Navarra, stated: “We are aware of the challenge represented by the ecological transition, but it is imperative to move towards an engaged, self-sufficient, and responsible Navarra. It is essential for our industrial fabric to continue taking the necessary steps towards decarbonization. This means less dependency, both for industry and for society, a key priority for achieving energy sovereignty. The goal is to harness resources to produce clean energy, reduce waste, and promote a sustainable model. The investments the company is making today have been supported by grants aimed at investment in the agri-food industries, awarded through the Department of Industry and the Department of Ecological and Digital Transition of the Government of Navarra.”

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®, 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

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Press contact

Bel Group

Mélanie Rigaud

[email protected] / +336 88 42 42 59