Babybel’s Vegan Cheese Wheels Are Coming to the US Next Month

Babybel’s popular lunchbox-size cheese wheels are getting a plant-based makeover. The brand’s new Babybel Plant-Based rounds will replicate the texture and flavor of the traditional mini-cheese wheels, giving consumers a dairy-free cheese option. Bel Brands – the company responsible for Babybel, Nurishh, and The Laughing Cow – just announced that it plans to develop its plant-based portfolio companywide, starting as soon as next month.

"At Bel Brands USA, we believe we can set the tone for the future of the cheese industry through a consumer and customer-centric approach to innovation that focuses on products that meet evolving demands, even as those demands continue to shift," Chief Marketing Officer at Bel Brands USA Shannon Maher said. "To get plant-based cheese right, you need to know what makes cheese cheese. And that's exactly what you've trusted us to do for over 150 years."

Babybel’s signature red wax will be redesigned with a green coat, signaling the new dairy-free cheese’s planet-friendly recipe. The certified vegan snack is meant to replicate the traditional mozzarella cheese and features a blend of starch and coconut oil, supplemented by vitamin B12 and calcium to maximize its nutritional value.

The iconic snack cheese will debut at US retailers in March, following closely after the products the UK release on January 1. The company’s plant-based innovation is an effort to meet the changing consumer demands, which in recent years leaned towards plant-based foods. Approximately 53 percent of consumers in America have started incorporating plant-based products into their regular diets, motivating companies like Bel Brands to reinvent their dairy portfolios.

"It's no secret in the dairy industry that cheese is one of the most technically challenging spaces for dairy alternatives because of its complexity,” Babybel Development Platform Manager at Bel Brands USA Katie Halgerson said. “And the plant-based cheese category has largely struggled to deliver offerings that are delicious, accessible, and meet consumers' expectations of cheese – until now. We're proud to give every cheese-lover an opportunity to enjoy the melty texture, creamy goodness, and rich mouthfeel of their favorite Bel cheeses, including expanding our line-up of product offerings to Babybel, bringing our delicious flavor and palm-sized playfulness to the plant-based world."

Babybel is certainly the most recognizable product from Bel Brands, but the company has been working to develop plant-based alternatives to its dairy selections for years. Bel Brands initially entered the dairy-free cheese space when it revealed an alternative to its iconic Boursin cheese spread. The Boursin Dairy-Free Cheese Spread Alternative debuted in late 2020, partnering with the vegan giant Follow Your Heart.

The cheese giant realized the potential of the dairy-free space, claiming that the widespread positive response to the Boursin cheese encourages its plant-based development across other brands. The company aims to recreate beloved products while meeting new standards of sustainability, health, and ethical implications.

“For many consumers, our products’ iconic taste is a powerful memory back to their childhoods, and continues to be part of their snacking routine today, so taste and texture were hugely important as we developed dairy-free versions,” Plant-Based Acceleration Director at Bel Brands USA Florian Decaux said to VegNews. “It was critical we delivered on that same creamy, delicious flavor our fans grew up with and continue to love today by holding the plant-based offerings to the same quality and taste standards as our dairy-based varieties.”

Bel Brands’ second most popular brand is The Laughing Cow, known for its spreadable cheese wedges. The company revealed alongside the Babybel launch that US consumers will not wait long before they can purchase a full dairy-free version of the iconic soft cheese wedges. The Laughing Cow Plant-Based is slated to hit retailers by 2023.

“The dairy-free snacking category is very limited when it comes to quality, spreadable cheese alternatives, and we’re looking forward to offering consumers this option that provides the familiar taste from The Laughing Cow cheese,” Decaux said. “For The Laughing Cow, developing the right creamy deliciousness and spreadability our fans expect from this brand has been a priority. We’re spending a bit more time on this one, so you’ll have to wait a little longer, but we know the wait will be worth it.”

Bel Brands is determined to enter the plant-based market by reinventing its signature products to appeal to the growing plant-based consumer base. But that is not enough. The cheese giant revealed its first dairy-free product line last year, Nurishh, and now plans to accelerate its product development. With the plant-based dairy market projected to hit $32 billion by 2031, Bel Brands intends on capitalizing on its growth.

“For nearly a decade, we’ve closely monitored the plant-based conversation and innovation, especially when involving dairy products, like cheese. We saw the changes in consumer behaviors, and more people shifting to follow an increasingly flexitarian diet and weaving plant-based products into their everyday lives,” Decaux said. “Their demand highlighted what was missing, which quickly started our multi-phased approach across our portfolio to perfect the recipes we’re rolling out now.”

Nurishh’s portfolio expansion will provide customers with plant-based cheese that exceeds across all categories. The company claims that its recipe development has perfected taste, texture, meltability, and more, breathing new life into the plant-based cheese category. The new spring products will include a Cream Cheese style spread, Cheddar cubes, Parmesan Shreds, Hot Pepper Slices, and cheese slice variety packs. Soon, Bel Brands will help stock the dairy-free shelves to a level that rivals the conventional dairy section.

Califia Farms Almond Creamer is made with real almonds and coconut cream to give a rich, full-flavored texture and has 2 grams of added sugar. The consistency is so thick it’s more like a heavy cream rather than a creamer substitute. Regardless, it froths up well and is very creamy. The almond taste is noticeable but the creamer isn’t bitter or grainy. You don’t need to use a lot of it; a little goes a long way!

Silk Original Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer has only 1 gram of added sugar, but sadly it does not froth up well when I heated it due to a thinner, more watery consistency. It didn't combine well with coffee, no matter how much was added. Because of the underwhelming flavor, this was my least favorite.

This Natural Bliss Coconut Milk Creamer/Sweet Cream is the best one I’ve found for both frothing and taste, especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half-and-half. It’s creamy and has a hint of coconut, but no overwhelming coconut flavor. Note: it is made with pea protein, unlike the other ones, which is probably why it’s thicker. Always check ingredients if you have food allergies because unexpected ingredients such as peas can be hiding in the product, and you would never know by the taste.

So Delicious has been marketing dairy-free frozen desserts, yogurt alternatives, and smooth plant-based beverages for over 30 years. Besides the coconut milk, they also have “Original,” “Snickerdoodle.” “Caramel” and “Creamy Vanilla” flavors. I only sampled the coconut milk flavor. This is the only one in this taste test with 0 grams of added sugar. It has a very rich coconut taste and froths up nicely in coffee like milk. It’s not as thick as some of the others but is a good alternative to ultra-sweet creamers if you want to be careful about your sugar intake. The coconut flavor is powerful but not overwhelming.

Natural Bliss Oat Milk Creamer, Vanilla Natural Flavor, with 4 grams added sugar is similar to Coffee Mate’s Coconut creamer but without the coconut flavor. It’s super-rich and creamy with a hint of oat flavor but not bitter at all. My new favorite! This is the best one I’ve found for frothing and taste especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half and half. It’s like the real thing as it’s creamy, fluffy and not grainy. Remember to shake it up before putting in your frother. Use a little and be happy with your non-dairy latte!

The Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition contains 4 grams of sugar but its full-flavored taste makes it a rich choice. It doesn’t market itself as a creamer but it does advertise as the choice for the barista community. It’s slightly less frothy than real milk when mixed but the flavor is pleasant, not bitter, and I would choose it again.

Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer, the Vanilla One has 4 grams of added sugar and is also at the top of my list. While it’s sweet, it’s also incredibly rich which means you can use less of it in your coffee. It was thick and creamy when frothed and it adds a fluffy cap to your coffee as lattes make with real cream. Note that pea protein is an added ingredient in this creamer as well. This can rival the real thing but choose this one only if you like a strong vanilla aftertaste!

The Silk Almond Creamer Vanilla boasts that it’s “America’s #1 Almond Creamer. But with 4 grams added sugar you may want to use it sparingly. It did taste sweet and was nice and thick, so someone who likes rich creamers will love it. The vanilla aftertaste was pretty strong. And it's a little too syrupy sweet for my taste.

Nutpods is the closest you'll get to the real thing! Tasters immediately gave this dairy-free creamer a 5 out 5. The texture is smooth and mixes with coffee instantly. Unlike soy creamers, this almond and coconut-based creamer doesn't separate once your done stirring. Nut Pods is the most comparable to half and half in the whole list of creamers!

Forager is cashew milk and coconut cream based that mixes for a unique and flavorful taste. The consistency was on the thinner side, and if you're a heavy cream or half-and-half devotee this is probably not the creamer for you, although those who like a lighter flavor will enjoy it.

This creamer is rich, round and doesn't taste too overtly of coconut. You only need a splash to achieve a nice, creamy effect in your coffee, and there's no watered-down consistency, so if you swear by heavy cream or half & half, give this Trader Joe's option a try! At only $1.69 per carton, this product is a steal.

The thickest consistency of the bunch, resembling a heavy cream rather than half and half. Malk has only 5 ingredients, making it super clean and healthy! The almond flavor might be overpowering to those who like less flavor in their creamer. Add the Maple Pecan flavor to your coffee for an even sweeter taste.