About The Laughing Cow
The Laughing Cow (La Vache Qui Rit in French) is one of the world's most iconic cheese brands, created by Fromageries Bel in 1921. It holds the distinction of being the first trademarked cheese product ever registered in France. The distinctive red-packaged triangular portions have become a beloved snack in UK households for nearly a century. The brand's origins trace back to the Jura region of France where Jules Bel founded a traditional cheese company in 1865. His son Léon Bel pioneered the processed cheese format in 1921, creating a product that would revolutionise portable cheese. The memorable laughing cow logo was designed by WWI cartoonist Benjamin Rabier, who had drawn a cow on military transport trucks as a playful lampoon of German imagery. The cheese is made from a carefully blended recipe of real cheeses including Comté, Emmental, Gouda, and Cheddar, combined with cream, milk, and other dairy ingredients. The pasteurisation process creates the signature creamy, spreadable texture while ensuring consistent quality and extended shelf life. The UK has been a key market since 1929 when Bel established a production plant in Southampton. The cheese has long been popular as a children's snack and lunchbox staple, known for its convenient individually wrapped triangular portions. Today, The Laughing Cow achieves over 20 million portions consumed daily worldwide, exceeding 7 billion portions annually. The Bel Group, which grew from Léon Bel's modest enterprise, now operates in over 100 countries and also markets Babybel and Boursin cheeses.