British honey has long been relegated to the status of a commodity, typically blended, blended, and priced in a standard manner. However, Black Bee Honey has based its business on a radically different approach, and recent figures indicate that their strategy is proving effective.
This beekeeper collective headquartered in Somerset has achieved an impressive milestone, exceeding £1 million in annual turnover, with a remarkable 49% increase in revenue compared to the previous year, marking the brand’s most significant business achievement since its inception in 2017.
The company has an origin story that stands out in the food industry. Co-founders Chris Barnes and Paul Webb originally met two decades ago in a London workplace, where they discovered their mutual passion for beekeeping. They eventually managed more than a million bees across various rooftops and gardens throughout the city. This hands-on experience highlighted the stark difference between fresh honey from the hive and the homogenized varieties found in supermarkets, a realization that became the cornerstone for Black Bee Honey.
Since then, the company has greatly expanded its operations. With its headquarters in Somerset, Black Bee Honey maintains local apiaries and collaborates with a network of over 15 bee farmers across the UK. Each jar of honey proudly displays the beekeeper’s name and the origin of the hive, a transparent traceability model that has enabled the brand to secure partnerships with notable retailers such as Holland & Barrett, the National Trust, Ocado, and Booths, in addition to being the exclusive supplier of British honey for Harrods.
According to co-founder Paul Webb, this achievement serves as an affirmation of their commitment to maintaining uniqueness rather than succumbing to commoditization. “Reaching £1 million in turnover is a huge milestone for us, particularly because we’ve built the business without compromising on what made us start it in the first place. We set out to prove that British honey could be exceptional, distinctive and worth knowing where it came from,” he shared.
Webb interprets the growth as indicative of changing consumer values. “The growth we’re seeing tells us that consumers are increasingly interested in the provenance of their food and in supporting businesses that do things differently. We’ve always believed British honey has been undervalued, and there’s a huge opportunity to change that.”
The organization’s growth has progressed alongside a commitment to sustainability, not in conflict with it. Black Bee Honey has achieved Certified B Corporation status and is recognized as a Living Wage Employer. Since 2020, they have contributed 2% of their revenue toward the creation and maintenance of wildflower meadows through a collaboration with Plantlife, aimed at restoring habitats for bees and other vital pollinators.
Co-founder Chris Barnes connects this environmental dedication to the company’s commercial ethos. “We’ve never wanted to make honey that is tame, plain or disconnected from nature. Our whole reason for existing is to keep British honey wild – to work with great beekeepers, respect the natural cycles of the environment and let the character of each place come through in the honey,” he explained.
When discussing the significance of reaching this milestone, Barnes clearly articulated his perspective. “To reach £1 million in turnover is a brilliant achievement for the whole community surrounding Black Bee. But for us, growth only really matters if we can use it to support more British beekeepers, protect more habitat and get more people excited about the incredible honey being produced here in the UK.”
Achieving £1 million in turnover positions Black Bee Honey as a testament to the potential of provenance-led food brands, demonstrating that transparency and traceability can provide a sustainable path for growth in a market largely influenced by commodity pricing.