President (brand)

President (brand)
Name	Président
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Dairy
Founded	1933
Founder	André Besnier
Headquarters	France France
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Cheese, butter, cream
Parent	Lactalis

President (brand) is a French dairy brand known for a wide array of cheeses, butters, creams, and other dairy products sold internationally. Founded in the early 20th century, the brand expanded under family ownership before becoming part of a major multinational food group. It is associated with classic French dairy traditions, industrial-scale production, and broad retail distribution across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

History

Président originated with André Besnier in the 1930s in Mayenne, France, during a period when regional producers such as Roquefort and Camembert de Normandie were gaining broader commercial recognition. The brand developed through the post-World War II era alongside contemporaries like La Vache qui rit and Boursin, expanding into refrigerated retail as supermarkets such as Carrefour and Auchan emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. During the late 20th century, President’s growth mirrored consolidation trends exemplified by mergers involving firms such as Nestlé and Kraft Foods; ultimately the Besnier family’s business evolved into the multinational group Lactalis. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the brand entered markets alongside global players like Kerrygold and President's Choice (unrelated), participating in trade fairs such as SIAL Paris and engaging with standards bodies including International Dairy Federation.

Product Range

Président offers a portfolio comparable to heritage lines such as Brie de Meaux, Comté, Emmental, and Camembert variants, while also producing processed and spreadable formats reminiscent of Philadelphia and block cheeses like Gouda. The range includes salted and unsalted butter akin to brands found in Normandy, double cream and single cream suitable for recipes referencing Larousse Gastronomique, crème fraîche used in dishes popularized at institutions like La Tour d'Argent, and portioned products targeted at foodservice clients such as Sodexo and Compass Group. Special editions and seasonal products have been introduced in line with trade events such as Anuga and festivals like Fête de la Gastronomie.

Manufacturing and Ingredients

Production occurs in Lactalis-owned factories across France and in international facilities comparable to those operated by Danone and Arla Foods. Milk sourcing networks include partnerships with regional cooperatives similar to Lactunion and agricultural associations such as Chambre d'agriculture. Manufacturing techniques combine traditional affinage practices associated with affinage for aged cheeses and modern pasteurization processes aligned with standards promulgated by European Food Safety Authority and regulations like Codex Alimentarius. Ingredients lists emphasize pasteurized cow’s milk, lactic ferments used by producers like Lallemand, saline solutions for brining comparable to methods used for Feta, and rennet types analogous to those documented by Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité.

Marketing and Branding

Président’s identity draws on French culinary heritage promoted in cultural venues such as Maison de la Culture and gastronomy media including Le Chef (magazine) and Gault Millau. Advertising campaigns have targeted retailers like Tesco, Walmart, and Metro AG, and have been timed with events such as Euro 2016 and Festival de Cannes tie-ins. Brand collaborations and sponsorships have mirrored strategies used by companies such as Moët & Chandon and Perrier, leveraging celebrity chefs associated with institutions like École Ferrandi and cookbook authors connected to Larousse. Packaging evolution has responded to regulatory labeling frameworks exemplified by the Nutri-Score initiative and packaging recyclability efforts aligned with directives from European Commission environmental programs.

Distribution and Markets

Président products are distributed through supermarket chains such as E.Leclerc, Auchan, Lidl, and Sainsbury's, and through foodservice channels including McDonald’s franchises and airline caterers like Gate Gourmet. The brand expanded into markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, competing with regional incumbents such as Galbani in Italy and Emmi in Switzerland. Export logistics utilize cold chain providers similar to DHL and Kuehne + Nagel, while trade relations and tariffs have been affected by agreements like the European Union–South Korea Free Trade Agreement and regulatory disputes heard at institutions akin to the World Trade Organization.

Nutritional Information and Awards

Nutritional labeling follows European directives and common scheme comparisons with products from Arla Foods and Müller. Macronutrient profiles vary across lines: butters present high saturated fat content comparable to Isigny Sainte-Mère, creams provide energy density akin to Crème fraîche products, and cheese varieties offer protein and calcium levels similar to Comté and Cheddar. Président has received product and packaging awards at exhibitions such as SIAL and accolades from culinary competitions like those hosted by Meilleur Ouvrier de France juries and regional taste institutes comparable to Taste of Paris juries.

Category:French brands Category:Dairy products