A year ago, I wrote —>>>this<<<—. I was ultimately able to find a semi-local store that I bought out AND Laughing Cow was kind enough to send me a case. For a while we were flush in yellow circle cheese.
A couple of months ago, we finally ran out, and I ran into the same problem. I could not find my baby’s favorite cheese anywhere. I finally reached out to my contact at the source.
I have some sad news to report. Late this morning, I received this email from Bel Brands USA:
Hi Luau,
I remember speaking with you last year, and we at Bel Brands USA were all very happy to be able to help you get the cheese your daughter loves.
Unfortunately, I have bad news: a few months ago, the Bonbel flavor of our Mini Babybel cheese was discontinued (along with our Laughing Cow Blue cheese, and our Strawberries & Cream cheese.) Those three products were just not selling well enough across the country, and it had reached the point where some of the major grocery chains had told our sales reps that they would not be ordering any of those items for their shelves. Our parent company in Europe had already discontinued the Bonbel flavor more than a year ago, so at this point it is a product that is no longer made by our company in any location.
Shane, the person who had been so kind to help us last year when I was desperately trying to track down those little yellow-gold circles of yumminess, went on to suggest that perhaps we could try the Baby Bel Originals (Reds) with Brooke. Apparently the recipes are very, very similar. Sadly, as many of you know, sometimes, with kids like Brooke, it’s not just the flavor that makes or breaks an item. The color it is wrapped in can change a food item from a must-have to a can’t-eat.
Perhaps if I had been more effusive in my praise of Bonbels a year ago, more people would have bought them and they would have stayed on the market. I know I did my best to keep their “mover” status at my local stores, yet somehow I feel like I have failed my baby girl.
For now it looks like cheese may be off Brooke’s menu, which, as a cheese lover, seriously bums me out.
Run Luau Run 
Yup. This is completely your fault, dear. Clearly, you did not do your part. If you cared at all for our kid you would have begun a campaign to drive the elderly to the market to pick up their yellow Bonbels, much as political operatives take them to the polls. Had you been any kind of father at all, you’d have bought media – a billboard on i-95 perhaps, radio time, a bi-plane carrying a banner over Fenway? If you really wanted your baby girl to be happy you would have rented out the Goodyear blimp and flown that sucker over the Super bowl wrapped in a yellow Bonbel wrapper until everyone and their mother was clambering for YELLOW CHEESE!!!!
In other words, um, babe? You did what you could. It was wonderful. It paid off. Now you support her through the process of learning about disappointment and coping strategies and trying new things when the old ones are no longer available to us. ‘Cause that’s what life does and will continue to bring. And you’re an amazing Daddy who does a hell of a job guiding her through it.
I love you.
P.S. If they ever discontinue her waffles, you’re getting the blimp.
just wanted to say…I LOVE both you guys!! You make me smile..I am sorry that the cheese is discontinued…that totally sucks..but as Jess says…disappointment sucks but its a learning experience and as a good daddy you WILL help guide her thru this.
I did start buying Bonbel after the initial post. Sorry I couldn’t buy more. Long live the cheese!