The Laughing Cow, a beloved triangular cheese portion, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its historic factory in Lons-le-Saunier, France. The factory, which has been operating since 1926, is now using digital technology and artificial intelligence to modernize its production. This iconic cheese, known for its red packaging and grinning cow logo, is exported worldwide and has become a global staple. A promotional poster in the factory’s corridors poses the riddle, “What is red and almost as well known as Santa Claus?” and answers with the smiling face of the Laughing Cow. The factory, located on more than one hectare of land near the city center, also produces other products under the Bel group, which owns several cheese brands. The factory is described by its director, Geoffroy d'Alès de Corbet, as “a 100-year-old lady that needs to be taken care of” with “pride.” It is also a “family story” for Bel and its 370 employees, many of whom are descendants of former workers. The company traces its roots back to 1865, when Jules Bel founded his first cheese aging and trading business in the Jura region. His son, Léon, later registered the La Vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow) brand in 1921, and the cheese was produced from 1926 in the new factory in Lons-le-Saunier. Each generation has contributed to the company’s growth, and today, the factory aims to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. One of the latest innovations is a “digital twin” of the Laughing Cow, a virtual model used to develop new recipes more efficiently. This tool helps identify consumer preferences by combining ingredients, physicochemical properties, and sensory data. The factory has also modernized its production lines, moving away from hand-molded portions to large-scale industrialization. The Franche-Comté site produces over 20,000 tons of cheese annually—equivalent to about 1.25 billion portions, two-thirds of which are exported. The cheese’s recipe varies by region, with a “milk-based” version in France, a “cheese-based” version in Eastern Europe, and mineral-enriched versions in Morocco to meet local tastes and nutritional needs. The Bel group, which also owns Babybel and Boursin, is experiencing rapid growth in the United States and Asia, with strong presence in northern Africa, where 80 to 90 percent of households buy the Laughing Cow. The product’s convenience—no need for refrigeration—has contributed to its global success. The act of opening the round box, taking a triangular portion, and pulling the red strip has become a ritual in over 120 countries. Antoine Fiévet, president of the Bel group and a fifth-generation descendant of the Bel family, says the company aims to “create a link between generations.” The factory’s workforce grew by 32 in 2025, and the company, which generated 3.83 billion euros in revenue last year, has factories in France, the United States, North Africa, Asia, and even Iran, Egypt, and Turkey.