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 