Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ

What Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ does

Nelson Honey & Marketing (NZ) Ltd is a family-owned New Zealand honey producer and bee-product company founded in 1973 by Philip Cropp, a third-generation beekeeper, building on apiaries that the Cropp family has operated in the Nelson region since 1899. The company operates over 10,000 hives across the Top of the South Island, with three production sites (Motupiko, Tapawera, and Hokitika) and a sister company, Rainbow Honey Ltd, contributing an additional 5,000+ hives. Core output is Manuka honey graded from MG30+ to MG1200+ via MGO testing, plus specialty honeys (West Coast, Honeydew, Rata), each batch independently tested by three laboratories for Methylglyoxal, C4 Carbon Sugars, HMF, and Pollen Count, with consumer-facing batch-level traceability. The product portfolio extends beyond commodity honey into two branded verticals: Nectar Ease (Manuka honey blended with bee venom for joint health, available as honey, capsules with Glucosamine, balm, and travel packs) and Royal Nectar (a premium skincare line combining Manuka honey with bee venom, including face masks, moisturizers, serum, eye cream, and toner achieving British Royal family endorsement in 2011). The company dispatches non-lethal bee venom extraction using low-voltage electrical stimulation.

The business monetizes through four streams: direct e-commerce via a Shopify storefront (nelsonhoney.com) selling to global consumers in NZD with a 10% subscription discount; domestic retail distribution through 500+ New Zealand outlets including Health 2000, Hardy's, Huckleberry, Life Pharmacy, and Unichem; authorized international distributors in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Kuwait; and bulk honey export in 205L drums (330kg) or IBC containers (1,200-1,400kg) for food manufacturers and commercial buyers. Approximately 85% of production is exported to 14+ countries, anchored by a 50+ year partnership with Tak Hung Hong International Ltd in Hong Kong and a wholly-owned UK subsidiary (Nelson Honey UK Ltd). The company holds MPI Risk Management Programme registration (since 2006), EU-level export approval (code NELSONAP2/01), and NZFSA exporter status (NA1PC), with registered trademarks for Nelson Honey, Royal Nectar, and Nectar Ease. Pricing spans from NZD $9.91 for entry-level Manuka Honey 250g to NZD $230.00 for premium MGO 1200+ 250g, with Royal Nectar skincare retailing from NZD $34.99 (eye cream) to NZD $79.99 (premium face mask).

Name

Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ

Legal name

Nelson Honey & Marketing (NZ) Ltd

Website

https://nelsonhoney.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ is a family-owned New Zealand honey producer operating 10,000+ hives since 1973, selling premium Manuka honey (MGO 30+ to 1200+), Nectar Ease health supplements, and Royal Nectar skincare across 500+ domestic retail outlets and 14+ export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Honey & Bee-Derived Consumer Products

NAICS

Apiculture (11291)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Honey Production & Extraction (AFAEAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Honey & Natural Sweet Spreads Manufacturing (AFAKADAL), Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM), Beeswax Production & Processing (AFAEAHAB), Honey & Apiculture Sweeteners (Honey, Honey Powders) (AFAJAAAL)

Keywords

• Manuka honey products
• Bee venom skincare
• Natural health supplements
• Premium honey export
• Apiculture manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Nelson

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through Shopify storefront for honey products, health supplements (Nectar Ease), and skincare (Royal Nectar) directly to consumers globally with pricing in NZD.
2. Retail Distribution: Supply to 500+ retail outlets across New Zealand including natural health food shops, pharmacies, and gift shops.
3. International Wholesale Export: Bulk honey exports in 205L food grade steel drums (330kg net) or IBC containers (1200-1400kg net) to authorized international distributors. Export to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA, UK, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Middle East.
4. Subscription Model: Subscribe and save option on Manuka Honey products offering 10% discount with recurring delivery every 2-8 weeks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ is a family-owned New Zealand beekeeping and honey producer that manufactures and sells premium Manuka honey, bee-venom-based health supplements (Nectar Ease), and skincare products (Royal Nectar) derived from its own apiaries. The company operates across three production sites with over 10,000 hives, processes and packages honey under proprietary MGO-graded lines, and exports bulk honey in food-grade drums alongside retail-packaged consumer goods.

Product overview

Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ is a family-owned New Zealand honey and bee product company founded in 1973, operating three generations of beekeeping expertise with over 10,000 hives across the South Island. The company offers three distinct product categories: Nutrition (premium honeys including Manuka, West Coast, Honeydew, and Rata varieties with MGO ratings from 30+ to 1200+), Health (Nectar Ease line combining Manuka honey with bee venom for joint support, available as honey, capsules, balms, and travel packs), and Skincare (Royal Nectar skincare line featuring Manuka honey and bee venom formulations including face masks, moisturizers, serums, and eye creams). The product portfolio is unified by core Manuka honey sourcing and bee-derived ingredients, with the innovative Nectar Ease formulation bridging both health and skincare applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Royal Nectar: Skincare product line combining Manuka Honey with Bee Venom and natural oils, designed to boost collagen production and reduce signs of aging.
• Nectar Ease
• Nectar Ease Balm

Products and services

• Manuka Honey Monofloral Manuka honey sourced from remote South Island locations, available in MG ratings from 30+ to 300+, featuring natural Methylglyoxal (MGO) content for antimicrobial and healing properties; sold to consumers seeking authentic New Zealand Manuka honey.
• Premium Manuka Honey MGO 550+ High-grade Manuka honey with 550+ mg/kg Methylglyoxal content, sourced from pristine remote environments in the South Island of New Zealand; targeted at consumers seeking high-potency Manuka honey.
• Premium Manuka Honey MGO 1200+ Ultra-potent Manuka honey with 1200+ mg/kg Methylglyoxal content, the highest MGO rating offered, collected from Manuka flowers in remote New Zealand wilderness.
• West Coast Honey Multifloral honey from the pristine West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, featuring diverse native floral sources like Rata and Kamahi, described as a 'Fruit Bowl of Honeys' with mild, buttery flavor.
• Honeydew Honey Unique non-floral honey derived from sticky secretions of scale insects in Black Beech forests, featuring complex sugars (Oligosaccharides), dark color, and similar taste to golden syrup or treacle.
• Rata Honey 500g Rare delicacy honey from the Rata tree, which blooms only once every seven years, featuring light golden color, smooth texture, and delicate floral flavor.
• Rata Honey 250g Rare 250g variant of Rata honey harvested from majestic Rata trees that fully bloom approximately once every seven years.
• Honey Comb Raw honeycomb containing natural edible wax and honey with intact carbohydrates and antioxidants, available only within New Zealand.
• Nectar Ease 500g Manuka honey blended with bee venom, designed to support joint and muscle health; one teaspoon contains less than one bee sting's worth of venom. Marketed as 'aches and pains honey' for joint and muscle support.
• Nectar Ease 120g Travel-sized Manuka honey with added bee venom, providing the same joint-supporting benefits as larger Nectar Ease products in a convenient 120g bottle.
• ON THE GO Nectar Ease Pre-portioned snap pack of Manuka honey with bee venom for convenient daily intake while traveling.
• Nectar Ease Deluxe Value bundle containing two 500g jars of Nectar Ease for home use and on-the-go wellness support.
• Nectar Ease Balm Topical bee venom cream with soothing essential oils, cold-pressed olive oil, and beeswax for relieving joint pain and discomfort.
• Nectar Ease Capsules Vegetarian capsule form containing dried Manuka honey blended with bee venom (less than 0.1%), offering a convenient alternative for those preferring supplements.
• Nectar Ease Plus Capsules Enhanced capsule supplement combining dried Manuka honey and bee venom with Glucosamine Sulphate for added joint support.
• Royal Nectar Original Face Mask Signature skincare product combining Manuka honey with bee venom for tightening and moisturizing effects; can be used as a face mask or night cream.
• Royal Nectar Premium Face Mask Advanced face mask featuring Nectar Ease PLUS (next generation Manuka honey and bee venom), Sepilift anti-aging ingredient, 24K Gold for shimmer, and WildPlum Harvest for hydration.
• Royal Nectar Moisturising Face Lift 50ml Daily facial moisturizer with bee wax, Jojoba oil, Apricot kernel oil, bee venom, and Manuka honey for nourishing, firming, and anti-aging effects.
• Royal Nectar Rejuvenating Serum Collagen-enriched serum with Manuka honey and bee venom for deep hydration, reducing fine lines, and restoring skin radiance.
• Royal Nectar Bee Venom Eye Cream 15ml Eye treatment formulated with Manuka honey and bee venom combined with Chamomile and Green Tea extracts to firm, smooth, and hydrate the delicate eye area.
• Royal Nectar Toner Skincare toner as part of the Royal Nectar skincare regimen.
• Royal Nectar For Acne Kit Targeted skincare kit for acne-prone skin using Manuka honey and bee venom properties.
• Manuka Honey Soap with Bee Venom Cleansing soap incorporating Manuka honey and bee venom for skincare benefits.
• Nelson Honey Bee Pollen Capsules

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ year partnership with Hong Kong distributor
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tak Hung Hong International LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1970Hong Kong distribution partner since the early 1970s, with over 50-year partnership ensuring smooth shipment of premium New Zealand honey to Hong Kong market. Handles local brand positioning and customer engagement, reinforcing perception of manuka honey as authentic and trusted product.
• Nelson Honey UK LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based authorized distributor handling sales and distribution in the United Kingdom market. Website: nelsonhoney.co.uk, Phone: +44 (0)1452831004.
• New Zealand Natural Exports LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for honey products in international markets (honey only).
• Innov8 Aotearoa LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for honey products (honey only). Phone: +64 (0)2102044144.
• Prestige Plastics IncorporatedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhilippines distributor for honey products. Located at 8 Glorious Sun Street, Potrero, Malabon, Philippines 1475.
• Manuka Honey (Asia) Pte Ltd SingaporecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSingapore authorized distributor located at Mount Sinai Drive #20-01 Ridgewood Co, Singapore 277113.
• Blossoms BH Wholesale Pty LTDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralia authorized distributor at 5 Averill Street, Rhodes NSW, Australia 2138.
• Selestia InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBangladesh authorized distributor at H-386,F-B3, R-6, East, Baridhara D.O.H.S, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206.
• Medcare Import and Export CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKuwait authorized distributor located at Kuwait Hawally Ibn Khaldoun street, Al – Othman Complex.
• Dr. Lee (South Korea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRespected distributor in South Korea region driving Nelson Honey's expansion in Asian market. Collaboration has helped navigate competitive market and ensure products reach right audience. South Korea demand for premium health-focused products has driven strong growth for Nelson Honey.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wedderspoon: NZ-Manuka-origin honey brand with US-led DTC and retail distribution, also offering bee-derived skincare and propolis products. Comparable to Nelson Honey on authenticated Manuka positioning and multi-category (honey + skincare) model.
• Arataki Honey: Long-established NZ honey producer with multiple floral varieties and export markets. Comparable to Nelson Honey on multi-floral honey range, NZ-domestic retail presence, and bulk/retail split.
• Manuka Doctor: NZ Manuka honey and bee-derived health product brand selling globally. Comparable to Nelson Honey on MGO-graded honey positioning and diversified health/skincare line.
• BeeNZ: NZ Manuka and specialty honey producer with bulk and retail channels. Comparable to Nelson Honey on hive-based NZ supply and bulk honey export business.
• New Zealand Honey Co. NZ Manuka honey producer with MGO-rated range and global distribution. Comparable to Nelson Honey on Manuka grading, international DTC, and bulk export offerings.
• Comvita: Largest New Zealand Manuka honey producer, with extensive MGO-graded honey, health supplements and skincare lines, plus international distribution. Direct competitor to Nelson Honey across the same product categories and global channels.
• Streamland (New Zealand Manuka Group): NZ-based producer of Manuka honey and value-added bee products including skincare and lozenges. Comparable to Nelson Honey on multi-product bee-derived portfolio and Asian market export focus.
• Taylor Pass Honey Company: NZ Manuka and specialty honey producer based in the Marlborough Sounds region. Comparable to Nelson Honey on South Island-origin Manuka supply, monofloral/multifloral range, and export focus.
• Manuka Health: NZ-based Manuka honey specialist offering MGO-rated honeys and bee-derived health products, with strong European and Asian distribution. Comparable to Nelson Honey in product mix and international export profile.

Emerging players

• Eve Hansen: DTC skincare brand offering Manuka honey-based skincare and bee venom products internationally. Comparable to Nelson Honey's Royal Nectar range as a bee-venom skincare competitor, though operating without primary beekeeping assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=P3o4XGUiN3w
• Facebookfacebook.com/nelsonhoneynz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nelson-honey-marketing-nz-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nelson Honey & Marketing NZ