Bel Brands USA, the maker of Mini Babybel and The Laughing Cow cheese, has hired its first production employees for a new facility in Brookings, South Dakota. Production at the 170,000-square-feet plant is scheduled to start in July and product testing could begin as early as March.
Over the past year, U.S. sales of Mini Babybel are up nearly 25 percent and the company has had to import the cheeses from France to meet U.S. demand. The new facility will help reduce the need for importing the product.Bel Brands considered nine different states before choosing South Dakota, according to a www.keloland.com article by Brittany Larson.
South Dakota State University's Dairy Science Department was a factor in the decision; Bel Brands is collaborating with the university to create hands-on learning experiences and to connect graduates with potential job placements.
The company has already hired several of the program's graduates, department head Vikram Mistry told the KELO TV reporter.
He added, "There are many new producers that have come into the state, so the industry here has really grown and along with it come opportunities."
Bel Brands is investing more than $150 million in the new Brookings facility, which will employ 275 people by the end of 2014. PD
—Summarized by PD staff from cited source
