Président

Président is a French dairy brand associated primarily with cheese and butter. It was created in 1933 by André Besnier, a leading figure in France’s dairy industry and the founder of the business that later became Lactalis. The brand name, meaning “President” in French, was chosen to evoke a distinctly French social and cultural idea: according to Besnier’s explanation, France was a country in which people commonly held the title of president in clubs, associations, and civic groups. The name therefore conveyed familiarity, national identity, and a degree of prestige without being limited to a political reference. The brand initially developed around traditional French dairy categories, but its commercial identity has centered on industrially produced and widely distributed versions of familiar cheeses. Président Camembert was introduced in 1968, followed by Coulommiers and butter in 1972, Brie in 1975, and an Emmental range in 1991. These launches expanded the brand from a single signature cheese into a broad dairy portfolio. Later additions included cheese spreads based on Camembert and Emmental in 1999, Mozzarella and goat’s cheese in 2003, and Cantal in 2006. The range reflects a strategy of combining recognizable regional cheese styles with standardized production, packaging, and distribution suitable for modern retail. Président’s visual identity has been an important part of its positioning. The Camembert label has remained broadly consistent since the product’s launch and uses a gold-and-black palette, heraldic elements, and crossed palms. The design was intended to resemble premium whisky labels, using visual cues of heritage, quality, and authenticity. Three crests on the label represent the milk’s regional origins, stylized through references to Brittany, Normandy, and Maine. This packaging helped the brand present mass-produced cheese as connected to French tradition and regional food culture. The brand expanded beyond France during the 1990s, entering Germany and the United States in 1995. Its international presence is supported by Lactalis, a major privately held French dairy group with a broad global operating footprint. Within the Lactalis portfolio, Président functions as a consumer-facing international brand, while the group’s industrial and geographic operations support production and distribution across markets. The brand has also marketed products beyond traditional soft-ripened cheese, including butter, semi-hard cheeses, fresh and spreadable formats, and specialty cheeses. A notable scale marker was the sale of Président’s billionth Camembert in 1993, indicating the importance of the product to the brand’s growth and recognition. The brand remains active and is principally positioned around accessible French dairy expertise: familiar cheese varieties, dependable quality, strong packaging recognition, and broad retail availability. Exact current product assortments, market coverage, ownership structures below Lactalis, and present-day executive leadership are not specified in the supplied reference material.

Président was established in 1933 by André Besnier, who was already an important participant in France’s dairy sector. The brand was created within the business that developed into Lactalis, and its name was intended to sound recognizably French while suggesting social standing and familiarity. Besnier explained the name through the common French practice of having presidents of clubs, associations, and local groups, rather than presenting it solely as a reference to national political office. The brand’s early development centered on packaged versions of traditional French dairy products. Its first major landmark in the supplied history is the launch of Président Camembert in 1968. This product became the brand’s signature reference and helped establish its identity in the French cheese market. Président broadened its range in 1972 with Coulommiers and butter, then added Brie in 1975. These extensions positioned the brand across both cheese and butter while retaining a focus on familiar French food categories. In 1991, Président introduced an Emmental range. Two years later, the brand recorded sales of its billionth Camembert, a milestone that illustrates the scale achieved by its flagship product. International development followed in 1995, when the brand was launched in Germany and the United States. This expansion brought the French dairy identity associated with Président to major overseas markets and supported the brand’s role as an international consumer label within the Lactalis portfolio. Product diversification continued in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, Président introduced spreads based on Camembert and Emmental, adapting traditional cheese identities to a more convenient format. In 2003, the range expanded to Mozzarella and goat’s cheese, followed by Cantal in 2006. These launches show the brand’s movement from a core Camembert proposition toward a wider portfolio of soft, semi-hard, fresh, spreadable, and specialty cheeses. Packaging and branding have remained central to the product’s presentation. The Camembert label has changed little since its launch and uses a premium-looking gold-and-black design, crossed palms, and heraldic imagery. The styling was designed to recall whisky labels and to communicate quality, heritage, and authenticity. The label’s three crests symbolize the milk’s regional origins through stylized references to Brittany, Normandy, and Maine. This visual language links industrially produced retail cheese with the cultural and regional associations of French traditional food. Président is owned by Lactalis, the French dairy group based in Laval, Mayenne. The group provides the corporate and production context for the brand’s international distribution. The supplied reference material identifies Germany and the United States as international launch markets, while the brand’s association with Lactalis indicates a broader global commercial role. Current product lists, manufacturing sites, executive leadership, financial performance, and detailed contemporary market-by-market operations are not established by the available sources.

• 2006

  Cantal launched

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand added Cantal to its range of French cheese products.

• 2003

  Mozzarella and goat’s cheese added

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Président expanded into Mozzarella and goat’s cheese.

• 1999

  Camembert and Emmental spreads launched

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced spreadable products based on Camembert and Emmental.

• 1999

  Besnier group renamed Lactalis

  The parent dairy group adopted the Lactalis name; Président continued as a major consumer brand within the group.

• 1995

  International expansion to Germany and the United States

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Président launched its brand in Germany and the United States.

• 1993

  Billionth Camembert sold

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Président reported the sale of its billionth Camembert.

• 1991

  Emmental range launched

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Président introduced an Emmental product range, broadening its position in semi-hard cheese.

• 1975

  Président Brie launched

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand added Brie to its French cheese portfolio.

• 1972

  Coulommiers and butter added

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Président expanded beyond Camembert with Coulommiers and its butter range.

• 1968

  Président Camembert launched

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced Président Camembert, which became its signature product and an important driver of its identity.

• 1968

  Président brand introduced

  Michel Besnier introduced Président as a consumer-facing French dairy brand within the Besnier business.

• 1933

  Président brand created

  [1]Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  André Besnier created the Président brand within the French dairy business that later became associated with Lactalis.

A French dairy brand that combines recognizable traditional cheese styles with standardized industrial production, distinctive heritage-inspired packaging, and broad retail distribution. French dairy expertise with broad household, culinary and entertaining applications; generally positioned between everyday accessibility and premium French food presentation. A French dairy brand that combines recognizable traditional cheese styles with standardized industrial production, distinctive heritage-inspired packaging, and broad retail distribution; positioned between everyday accessibility and premium French food presentation, with household, culinary and entertaining applications.

• Soft-ripened cheese · 1968

  Président Camembert

  Président Camembert is the brand’s signature cheese line and was launched in 1968. It is presented as a packaged, industrially produced version of the familiar French Camembert style. Its long-standing label uses gold-and-black coloring, heraldic motifs, and crossed palms to connect the product with French heritage, regional milk origins, and premium visual cues.

• Soft cheese · 1972

  Président Coulommiers

  Coulommiers was added to the Président portfolio in 1972. The product extends the brand’s soft-cheese offering beyond Camembert and adapts a traditional French cheese style for packaged retail distribution.

• Butter · 1972

  Président Butter

  Président butter was introduced in 1972, giving the brand a major dairy category beyond cheese. Its launch helped establish Président as a broader household dairy label rather than a single-product cheese brand. Président’s butter range is one of the brand’s core offerings. It is sold in formats intended for spreading, cooking and baking, with pack formats and recipes varying by market. The products use the brand’s French dairy positioning and are distributed through mainstream retail channels. Président butter was introduced in 1972, giving the brand a major dairy category beyond cheese. It is sold in formats intended for spreading, cooking and baking, with pack formats and recipes varying by market. Its launch helped establish Président as a broader household dairy label rather than a single-product cheese brand.

• Soft-ripened cheese · 1975

  Président Brie

  Introduced in 1975, Président Brie broadened the brand’s assortment of recognizable French soft cheeses. It fits the brand’s strategy of offering standardized packaged versions of traditional cheese varieties.

• Semi-hard cheese · 1991

  Président Emmental

  The Président Emmental range was launched in 1991. It moved the portfolio into a semi-hard cheese category and supported the brand’s expansion beyond soft-ripened French cheeses.

• Spreadable cheese · 1999

  Président Cheese Spreads

  Président introduced cheese spreads based on Camembert and Emmental in 1999. These products translated two of the brand’s established cheese identities into a convenient spreadable format. The cheese portfolio includes packaged household cheeses and products intended for everyday meals, sandwiches, cooking or sharing. Depending on the market, the range may include different styles, textures and portion formats. Cheese is central to the brand’s identity and international visibility.

• Fresh cheese · 2003

  Président Mozzarella

  Mozzarella joined the Président range in 2003, extending the brand into a widely used fresh-cheese category with an identity distinct from its traditional French soft-cheese core.

• Goat cheese · 2003

  Président Goat’s Cheese

  The brand added goat’s cheese in 2003 as part of a broader diversification program. The product brought another established cheese tradition into the Président packaged portfolio.

• Regional French cheese · 2006

  Président Cantal

  Président Cantal was launched in 2006. It reinforced the brand’s use of regional French cheese identities while applying the standardized retail presentation associated with Président.

• Cream

  Président Cream

  Président cream products are designed for culinary uses such as sauces, desserts, cooking and whipping. Local ranges can differ in fat content, preparation method and packaging, but the category extends the brand from table dairy into meal preparation and baking.

• 2003

  Expansion into Mozzarella and goat’s cheeseProduct launch

  Background

  Président continued broadening its portfolio beyond its best-known Camembert, Brie, and Emmental offerings.

  Action taken

  The brand added Mozzarella and goat’s cheese.

  Aftermath

  The range covered a wider set of cheese categories and styles, although detailed commercial outcomes are not provided.

  Source

• 1999

  Introduction of Camembert and Emmental spreadsProduct launch

  Background

  Président had built recognition around traditional cheese formats but also sought more convenient product forms.

  Action taken

  The brand launched spreadable products based on Camembert and Emmental.

  Aftermath

  The launches diversified the portfolio into a convenient spreadable format while retaining links to two established Président cheese identities.

  Source

• 1995

  Expansion into Germany and the United StatesStrategy

  Background

  After building a substantial French business around Camembert and other dairy products, Président pursued international growth.

  Action taken

  The brand launched in Germany and the United States.

  Aftermath

  The move established an international dimension for Président within the Lactalis portfolio. Detailed results by market are not specified in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Président (brand)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Président — Lactalis brand informationlactalis.com
3. 3Lactalis — company informationlactalis.com