4 minute read
Opportunity for growth in sweet partnership
An agreement signed in July with major mānuka exporter Manukora is a significant step forward for Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation’s honey business.
This is the Incorporation’s fourth year of selling honey to Manukora, and Business Manager Apiary, Dan Adams, says a good relationship has developed between the two organisations.
That relationship has now been sealed with a long-term supply agreement that is subject to periodic review but is intended to run indefinitely.
“They are our largest buyer and we are their most significant supplier,” says Dan, a trained beekeeper with 18 years in the industry.
“Manukora are very good at selling mānuka honey and we are good at producing it.”
The agreement will provide Ātihau with an important measure of certainty around pricing and sales quantity.
As part of the agreement, Manukora will forecast the honey it expects to purchase at the start of the honey season so that hive numbers and honey production can be adjusted to align with the projected demand.
“That takes some risk out of the business and will give us confidence going forward,” says Dan.
The agreement is particularly pleasing as it comes after one of the most challenging seasons for the mānuka operation, which is worth millions of dollars annually.
“The New Zealand honey industry was producing more honey than it could sell, then COVID hit and that was followed by a very poor 2022/2023 season across New Zealand – cold and very wet until close to the end.
“As a result, we produced around 53 tonnes of honey last season. That was actually a very good result by our beekeepers and bees when compared to other beekeepers across the country, albeit about half of the record 100-plus tonnes we produced the previous year.
“It’s been common to hear about total failures or crops yielding 10 per cent or less of the previous season in most regions.”
The mānuka honey flows on Ātihau whenua from December to February and Dan is hopeful for a much-improved outcome this year.
“We don’t appear to be facing the same weather patterns as last season, and our aim will be to produce 80 tonnes or more. As always, we will be watching the weather forecasts from now on very closely.”
Ātihau has its beehives on whenua between Ohakune and Whanganui and focuses on producing mānuka honey, noted for its creamy, caramel texture and its health-promoting properties of natural enzymes, antioxidants, prebiotics and antibacterial compounds.
The Incorporation has already had the benefit of Manukora buying its inventory of honey from past seasons, with more than 80 tonnes sold during the 2022/2023 season, and Dan is optimistic that the partnership will see significant growth in the business.
“Manukora are a major player in North America, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, with plans to grow exports to North America over the next few years. Both organisations anticipate opportunities for growth.”
A key aspect to the agreement is Manukora’s shared focus on the environment and the wellbeing of the bees.
“It is more than a straight transactional relationship for us. For some businesses, bees are simply a commercial resource, but Manukora share our values of treating the bees well and treating the whenua well.
“The Ātihau approach includes increasing natural forage to allow less supplementary feeding of hives, so long-term that means programmes to restore native plants. I see our beekeeping business being a driver for restoring and maintaining whenua.”
For its part, Manukora is committed to sustainability, including using only recyclable jars, compostable packaging, and supporting native reforestation along waterways.
“Manukora are very supportive of our work to reduce the feeding of sugar and the use of plastics within the apiary business, and see value in our ethical beekeeping rather than the common New Zealand, extractive approach to commercial beekeeping,” says Dan.
“That’s a significant reason they want to continue buying the lion’s share of our mānuka honey crop. Their customers want to know where the honey was produced, that it was made with care, and who the beekeepers are. That’s us, that’s Ātihau.”
