Bel Egypt joins Danone Egypt's 'Omda' initiative to extend its rural footprint and drive meaningful community impact

Zawya

5 days ago

Cairo, Egypt — As part of its continued growth and expansion strategy, Bel Egypt, a global leader in dairy products, has entered into a strategic co-distribution partnership with Danone Egypt through their established CSR initiative 'Omda'. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Bel's mission to deliver accessible, affordable nutrition to underserved rural areas while advancing sustainable development goals.
The partnership was signed in the presence of H.E. Éric Chevallier, the French Ambassador to Egypt; Hany Arram, Regional Manager of Bel Egypt and North East Africa; and Hesham Radwan, the General Manager of Danone Egypt.
Originally launched by Danone Egypt as a flagship social impact program, 'Omda' enables micro-distributors, funded through Danone's banking partner, to own and operate distribution vans serving hard-to-reach areas. Today, the 'Omda' fleet comprises 370 vans, collectively reaching over 15 million customers across Egypt's rural and semi-urban regions.
This new partnership builds on the 'Omda' initiative to significantly expand access to affordable La Vache Qui Rit, Kiri, and Abu El Walad products across underserved governorates in Delta, Beheira, and Upper Egypt—aiming to reach thousands of additional households.
This initiative aligns with Bel's 'For All, For Good' strategy, promoting community well-being and inclusive nutrition. The partnership with Danone Egypt expands rural market reach while maintaining zero additional environmental impact. By streamlining distribution networks and leveraging the efforts of sales and logistics teams, the collaboration has contributed to a 50% reduction in the combined carbon footprint, highlighting that sustainability can be driven not only by production facilities but also by efficient commercial operations and smarter go-to-market strategies.
On this occasion, His Excellency Eric Chevallier praised the initiative. Two French companies forming alliances to build strong partnerships by drawing on what makes French economic presence in Egypt so impactful : value added, job creation, training and focus on talents, contribution to the economic growth and, in this case also improving access to quality nutrition in rural areas, and reducing the carbon footprint of their operations.
Echoing this sentiment, Hesham Radwan, General Manager of Danone Egypt stated, "We are proud of this strategic partnership with Bel Egypt, which brings together two French companies with global legacies and long-standing roots in Egypt. This collaboration perfectly aligns with our mission to empower local communities and expand access to healthy, nutritious food across the country. Together, we are not only enhancing the efficiency of our distribution networks but also reinforcing our commitment to health, environmental responsibility, local empowerment, and shared, inclusive growth.
He added, 'By combining our infrastructure, reach, and expertise, we are enabling more people in more communities to access the nutritious products of both Danone and Bel. This partnership is a powerful step forward on our journey to fulfill Danone's core purpose—bringing health through food to as many people as possible.'
Hany Arram, Regional Manager of Bel Egypt and North East Africa, commented: 'This partnership with Danone is a key milestone in Bel Egypt's mission to serve more Egyptian families, responsibly, sustainably, and at scale. We are proud to collaborate with a like-minded partner that shares our commitment to social impact and inclusive growth. By tapping into the proven success of the Omda initiative, we're not just expanding our physical presence; we're actively improving access to quality nutrition, supporting local entrepreneurship, and driving meaningful reductions in our environmental impact.'
About Bel Company
The Bel Group is a major player in the healthy dairy, fruit and plant-based snacks segment. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands includes The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Babybel®, Boursin®, Nurishh®, Pom'Potes®, and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as some 25 local brands. Together, these brands helped the Group generate sales of €3.7 billion in 2024.
Bel has been operating in the Egyptian market for over 25 years, employing 1,500 staff. The company's products have become an integral part of the daily lives of Egyptian families through its iconic brands "La Vache Qui Rit" and "Kiri." Bel Egypt serves as a strategic manufacturing hub, exporting products to nearly 19 countries, leveraging cutting-edge technologies. In line with its vision of "providing healthy and balanced food for everyone," Bel contributes to promoting healthier eating habits while increasing the accessibility of its products. The company is committed to implementing various initiatives that foster sustainable agriculture, combat climate change, and design environmentally friendly packaging.
About Danone Egypt
Danone Egypt is a subsidiary of Danone, with its headquarters operating in Cairo since 2006, with a leading position in the essential dairy category (Danone Yogurt, Danette, Activia, Danone Max, Danone Greek, HiPro, Dango and El Baraka) and plant-based products (Alpro). Danone Egypt's 1,500 employees are driven by the ambition to nourish a healthier and happier Egypt. Danone is proud to make a positive contribution to Egypt with great-tasting, healthier, and top-quality products for children and families, which support healthy lifestyles for all Egyptians. Danone Egypt has a plant in Obour and a world-class dairy farm in Nubariya, the third largest in Egypt.
Danone Egypt is the first company in Egypt to achieve the B Corp TM Certification. It recognizes the company's ambition to act beyond financial profit and put purpose at the heart of its business strategy in addition to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance.