Bel Group has committed $19.45 million to expand its cheese production facility in Vietnam, a move designed to double output and strengthen its position as a regional supplier. This sizable investment reflects the company’s confidence in the market’s long-term growth. The investment will raise annual capacity to 20,000 tonnes, securing over 70% market share in Vietnam’s cheese sector across modern and traditional retail. Construction begins at the end of January 2026, with completion targeted for March 2027.
The project supports Bel’s broader Asia strategy, with the expanded site supplying markets in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The facility will also introduce a pilot Research, Innovation, and Development line that will refine recipes and test new formats tailored to local nutritional preferences. Brands like The Laughing Cow, Belcube, and Kiri, most of which are already produced locally, will benefit from the upgrades, and the new line will explore lactose-reduced and locally sourced ingredient options.
Employment at the site will grow from 188 to 400 employees over time, reflecting the scale of the expansion and creating new skilled positions in production, quality control, and logistics.
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Vietnam has been a key part of Bel’s Asia operations since 2011, alongside recent investments in China, India, and Indonesia. The company’s Chief Operations Officer, Stéphane Dupays, described Vietnam as “a cornerstone of our regional strategy,” highlighting its role as an industrial hub for ASEAN markets and noting the importance of local sourcing.
While dairy demand in Southeast Asia has surged in recent years, driven by urbanization and rising incomes, the expansion aligns with Bel’s focus on localized production rather than relying on imports. The company has previously prioritized in-market manufacturing to reduce costs and adapt to regional tastes, a model now being scaled up in Vietnam.
The facility’s upgrades include infrastructure for export logistics, such as expanded loading bays that will accommodate containerized shipments to ports in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, ensuring smoother distribution to neighboring countries. Bel has emphasized adapting its product lines to meet regional dietary trends, including lower-fat options for health-conscious consumers and plant-based alternatives aimed at emerging vegan demand, although the pilot line’s exact focus remains under development.
