Thorne Beehives
E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, trading as Thorne Beehives, is a UK privately held manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment founded c. 1920, serving hobbyist and commercial beekeepers via its Lincolnshire factory, five UK retail branches and a worldwide DTC e-commerce site.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersMarket Rasen, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Thorne Beehives does
E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, trading as Thorne Beehives, is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment founded c. 1920 and headquartered at Beehive Business Park, Rand, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. The company operates an integrated Lincolnshire manufacturing site (woodshop, wax plant, assembly and despatch) and distributes directly to consumers through its thorne.co.uk e-commerce platform — which supports GBP, EUR, USD, AUD and JPY pricing and worldwide delivery — and through five physical UK retail branches in Lincolnshire, Windsor, Scotland, Stockbridge and Devon.
The product portfolio centres on beehives in roughly a dozen standard designs (National, WBC, Langstroth, Commercial, Dadant, Smith, Warre, Rose OSB, Top Bar, Centenary, Layens, Drayton, Westley, Flow Hive) supported by frames, foundation sheets, hive hardware, protective clothing, smokers, honey extraction and processing equipment, queen rearing supplies, bee health and Varroa treatments, Asian hornet and wasp control, honey labels and packaging, candlemaking supplies, books, gifts and live bees. A value-oriented 'Bees on a Budget' sub-brand, plus National and WBC beginners' kits, targets price-sensitive and new-entrant hobbyists, while the company also offers Lincolnshire-based beekeeping courses and educational/training aids.
The business model is direct-to-consumer, with revenue generated from one-time unit sales of physical goods at prices ranging from under £100 to several hundred pounds per hive, with free GB delivery on orders above £100. Customer segments span hobbyist beekeepers, commercial beekeeping operations, budget-conscious buyers and gift purchasers, with no disclosed enterprise contracts, no headcount or revenue figures, no external funding, and no parent company. Technology is described as traditional woodshop and assembly manufacturing; no AI/ML, app, API or third-party integrations are referenced.
Thorne Beehives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thorne Beehives
- Legal name
- E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd
- Website
- https://beehivesales.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, trading as Thorne Beehives, is a UK privately held manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment founded c. 1920, serving hobbyist and commercial beekeepers via its Lincolnshire factory, five UK retail branches and a worldwide DTC e-commerce site.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thorne Beehives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Beekeeping Equipment
- NAICS
- Apiculture (11291)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beekeeping Equipment Manufacturing & Supply (Hives, Frames, Tools, PPE) (AFAEAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Package Bees & Colony Sales (AFAEAHAF), Bee Health Management & Treatments (Mite/Disease Control Products & Services) (AFAEAHAK)
Keywords
Where Thorne Beehives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Market Rasen
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Thorne Beehives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Beekeeping Equipment Sales: Direct sales of beekeeping equipment including hives, frames, foundation, hardware, clothing, processing equipment, labels, packaging, queen rearing supplies, health products, books, education materials, gifts, and candlemaking supplies. Products are sold through company-owned e-commerce platform and physical retail branches throughout the UK.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Budget Beekeeping Equipment Range - Affordable options for cost-conscious beekeepers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Thorne Beehives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thorne Beehives (E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd) manufactures and retails a comprehensive range of beekeeping equipment, including beehives in multiple standard designs (National, WBC, Langstroth, Commercial, Dadant, Smith, Warre, Rose OSB, Top Bar, Centenary, Layens, Drayton, Westley, Flow Hive), frames and foundation, hive hardware, protective clothing, honey extraction and processing equipment, queen rearing supplies, health and feeding products, honey labels and packaging, candlemaking supplies, and Asian hornet/wasp control products. The company also sells live bees, beginners kits, customizable hives, and beekeeping courses. Products are manufactured in Lincolnshire, UK, and sold via the thorne.co.uk e-commerce site and five physical retail branches across the UK.
Product overview
Thorne Beehives is a UK-based manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment with over 100 years of history, operating as a single unified product portfolio centered around beekeeping supplies. The core offering consists of beehives in multiple standard designs (National, WBC, Langstroth, Commercial, Dadant, Smith, Warre, Rose OSB, Top Bar, Centenary Hive, Layens, Drayton, Westley Hive, Flow Hive) complemented by essential components including frames and foundation, hive hardware, processing equipment, and protective clothing. The company extends its portfolio into specialized categories such as queen rearing equipment, health and feeding supplies, honey labels and packaging, candlemaking products, and Asian hornet/wasp control. A budget range of equipment manufactured in Lincolnshire provides economical alternatives, while educational courses and training aids support new beekeepers. The company operates as both manufacturer and retailer with multiple physical branch locations across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thornes of Windsor: Regional retail branch of Thorne Beehives located in Windsor.
- Thornes of Scotland
- Thornes of Stockbridge
- Thornes of Devon
- Bees on a Budget
Products and services
- Beehives (National, WBC, Langstroth, Commercial, Dadant, Smith, Warre, Rose OSB, Top Bar, Centenary, Layens, Drayton, Westley, Flow Hive)
Companies that use Thorne Beehives
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Thorne Beehives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Thorne Beehives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Thorne Beehives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Maisemore Apiaries: UK-based manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment, frames and hive components. Directly comparable as another British supplier serving the same hobbyist and small commercial customer base with overlapping hive formats (National, Commercial).
- Mann Lake Ltd: Largest US beekeeping equipment manufacturer and retailer, offering hives, tools, protective clothing, queen rearing supplies and honey processing equipment. Direct functional competitor across the full beekeeping equipment spectrum with international reach.
- Dadant & Sons: Historic US beekeeping equipment manufacturer (since 1863) producing hives, frames, extractors and offering a comprehensive catalogue comparable to Thorne's depth. Comparable as a long-established multi-category beekeeping supplier.
- Kelley Beekeeping: US manufacturer and retailer of beekeeping equipment established in 1903, similar heritage profile to Thorne. Directly comparable across hive formats, frames, processing equipment and clothing.
- Betterbee: US-based beekeeping supply retailer and manufacturer of hives, frames, tools and protective clothing. Direct catalogue and channel competitor serving hobbyist and sideliner beekeepers.
- GloryBee: US-based supplier of beekeeping equipment, honey, beeswax products and ingredients. Comparable in offering equipment plus value-added hive-derived products (candles, cosmetics, ingredients) similar to Thorne's candlemaking and labels portfolio.
- National Bee Supplies (NBS): Long-established UK beekeeping equipment manufacturer and retailer offering hives, frames, clothing and processing equipment. Closest direct competitor to Thorne in the British National hive market.
- Abelo Beekeeping Supplies: UK supplier of beekeeping equipment and consumables including hives, frames, health products and clothing. Direct channel and catalogue competitor targeting the same hobbyist and small-scale commercial beekeeper segments.
- C. Wynne Jones (Cee Bee Hives): Welsh manufacturer of National hives, supers and associated beekeeping hardware. Comparable as a UK-based wooden hive manufacturer competing for the same British hobbyist customer.
Emerging players
- Flow Hive: Australian inventor of the Flow Hive (which Thorne distributes) and direct-to-consumer beekeeping equipment brand. Comparable as a digitally native, design-led entrant into hive equipment that disrupts traditional hive manufacturing economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Thorne Beehives social profiles
Digital presenceThorne Beehives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thorne Beehives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Thorne Beehives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thorne Beehives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Thorne Beehives
What does Thorne Beehives do?
Thorne Beehives (E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd) manufactures and retails a comprehensive range of beekeeping equipment, including beehives in multiple standard designs (National, WBC, Langstroth, Commercial, Dadant, Smith, Warre, Rose OSB, Top Bar, Centenary, Layens, Drayton, Westley, Flow Hive), frames and foundation, hive hardware, protective clothing, honey extraction and processing equipment, queen rearing supplies, health and feeding products, honey labels and packaging, candlemaking supplies, and Asian hornet/wasp control products. The company also sells live bees, beginners kits, customizable hives, and beekeeping courses. Products are manufactured in Lincolnshire, UK, and sold via the thorne.co.uk e-commerce site and five physical retail branches across the UK.
Is Thorne Beehives a public or private company?
Thorne Beehives is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Thorne Beehives founded?
Thorne Beehives was founded in 1920. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Thorne Beehives based?
Thorne Beehives is headquartered in Market Rasen, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Thorne Beehives make money?
One revenue line is on record: beekeeping Equipment Sales.
Who are Thorne Beehives's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Maisemore Apiaries, Mann Lake Ltd, Dadant & Sons, Kelley Beekeeping, Betterbee, GloryBee, National Bee Supplies (NBS), Abelo Beekeeping Supplies and C. Wynne Jones (Cee Bee Hives). Flow Hive is listed as an emerging player.
Does Thorne Beehives have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thorne Beehives.
What industry is Thorne Beehives in?
Thorne Beehives's product category is Beekeeping Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAHAI, Beekeeping Equipment Manufacturing & Supply (Hives, Frames, Tools, PPE), with a secondary code of AFAEAHAF, Package Bees & Colony Sales. Its NAICS code is 11291.