Bel Group Acquires Ingenuity Foods’ Brainiac® Brands to Expand Its Better-For-You Snacking Portfolio

Chicago and New York, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bel Group, a global player in dairy, fruit, and veggie snacking and the maker of iconic brands Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, Boursin®, and The Laughing Cow®, announces the acquisition of Ingenuity Foods’ brands: Brainiac® and Little Brainiac®.

This strategic move expands Bel’s portfolio and reinforces its leadership and commitment to the on-the-go, better-for-you, portion-sized snacks made from real fruit, veggies, and dairy for families across North America. With the added benefits of Omega-3s, Brainiac® snacks are a great fit for what Bel is all about.

The Brainiac® line, with value net sales growing triple digits in the last year, is known for its snacks for kids and families to support brain-building. This acquisition is complementary to Bel’s GoGo squeeZ® platform and further strengthens the company’s position in the fruit snack category with younger kids and a wide range of functional fruit and veggie snacks – smoothies, juice squeezers, fruit snacks, and baby/toddler foods. Brainiac® snacks are backed by nutritionists and doctors to support brain health and development and overall brain, gut, and immune health.

Beyond Brainiac® snacks offering great taste and functional nutrition, Bel and Ingenuity Foods have shared values – as evidenced by the fact they are a Certified B Corporation committed to the highest social and environmental standards.

“This move gives us more scale, product choices and breadth across our portfolio and truly is a 1 + 1 = 3 opportunity for us and Ingenuity”, said Peter McGuinness, CEO of Bel North America. “By bringing Brainiac® brands into our family of brands, we’re not just adding more products; we’re unlocking a new era of growth, innovation, and social impact. This acquisition gives us the opportunity to accelerate our momentum as the leader in portion-sized fruit, veggie, and dairy snacks that adults trust and kids love.”

Ingenuity Foods will continue to operate under its current leadership, ensuring business continuity. Mark Brooks, CEO and Co-Founder of Ingenuity Foods, commented, “We are excited to join forces with Bel and bring Brainiac® to even more families in more places. Bel’s dedication to nutrition, innovation, and purpose-driven brands is the perfect fit for our vision.” Jonathan Wolfson, Founder of Ingenuity Foods added, “Together, we will inspire and enable healthier choices and make a meaningful impact for kids and parents across the US.”

This acquisition signals Bel’s ongoing investment and expansion of US production, following the recent expansion of its plant in South Dakota. McGuinness has emphasized that Bel’s robust innovation pipeline, combined with rapid growth and market trends like GLP-1 diets, new dietary guidelines, and consumers’ desire for snacks made with real ingredients, positions the company to capture emerging opportunities and respond swiftly to evolving consumer needs. The acquisition of Brainiac® brands not only complements Bel’s offerings but also accelerates the company’s mission to lead in functional snacking, highlighting Bel’s forward-looking strategy and commitment to making a lasting, purposeful impact on the U.S. better-for-you snacking segment.

About BEL U.S.
Bel U.S. is part of the Bel Group, a global leader in dairy, fruit, and veggie snacking with 160 years of expertise. Family-owned, mission-led, and rooted in innovation, Bel U.S. creates delicious dairy, fruit and veggie portion-sized snacks. Iconic brands like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin® are among Bel U.S.’s most loved brands. With U.S. offices in Chicago and New York, and food facilities in Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, Bel U.S. is on a mission to champion Purpose*Full Snacking – delivering nourishment, bringing joy and building a more sustainable food system- For All, For Good. For more information, visit belbrandsusa.com.

About Ingenuity Foods and Brainiac®
Ingenuity Foods is the creator of Brainiac®, the snack brand committed to supporting healthy brain development for the whole family. Backed by a team of nutritionists and neuroscientists, Brainiac® snacks blend delicious, grab-n-go convenience with science-backed nutrition—with essential nutrients shown to support brain, gut, and immune health. With a focus on real ingredients, every Brainiac® product is designed to make smarter snacking easy and accessible. As a Certified B Corporation, Ingenuity Foods is dedicated to making a positive social and environmental impact while making healthy brain food available to all. For more information, visit brainiacfoods.com

Attachments

Paloma Lopez, Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer, Bel North America
Bel U.S.
belusmedia@groupe-bel.com

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