Bel Egypt, Danone partner to drive sustainability in rural areas

EGYPT – Bel Egypt, a leader in dairy products, has entered into a strategic co-distribution partnership with Danone Egypt through their established CSR initiative, Omda, 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.

Initially 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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.”

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