bistad
bistad is a registered Danish social-economy enterprise, founded 2012 in Aarhus, that operates beekeeping and handcraft beeswax production while providing employment to vulnerable citizens. It sells honey, candles, and related products via its own webshop, a domestic retail and partner-webshop network, corporate CSR partnership packages, memberships, and educational apiary tours.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAarhus C, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What bistad does
bistad is a privately-held, registered social economics enterprise (socialøkonomisk virksomhed) based in Aarhus C, Denmark, founded in 2012 by Lene Kiel Jensen, Steen Thykjær, and Brian Benjamin Hansen. It operates a beekeeping and artisanal production model that employs vulnerable citizens (flex jobs, sheltered jobs, and internships) alongside a small core staff of roughly 11 people, with all surplus reinvested into social outcomes. Its core technical operations are craft-based: cold-pressed honey separated by apiary and season, hand-dipped, rolled, and cast beeswax candles, beeswax wraps and blocks, leather-care products, and ancillary merchandise such as postcards and bee illustrations. All beeswax is sourced from the Grønne Pulje (Green Pool) of apiaries certified to avoid pesticides and antibiotics, and a key production feature is batch separation by apiary and harvest season to preserve distinct flavor profiles.
The product portfolio spans honey (125 g and 250 g formats), an extensive candle catalog (tealights, pillar candles, calendar candles, Advent sets, Christmas tree candles, and roll-your-own DIY kits), beeswax blocks for cosmetics and wood care, leather-care salves, reusable cotton bags, gift boxes and gift bags, the BI-VIS numbered and signed bee illustration series (A5 and A3 gold editions), and postcards using artist Anne Zidore's Sværm artwork. Distribution is hybrid: direct e-commerce via the bistad.dk webshop, a network of more than 50 physical retail partners across Denmark (Ren Kost, Ganefryd, HAY, National Museum, Moesgaard, Aros, etc.), and roughly a dozen partner webshops (Natural Living, Our Choice, Økofamilien, Naturebaby, etc.). Payment processing runs through Worldline Checkout, supporting Dankort, VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, and MobilePay.
Revenue is generated through five streams: one-time product sales across the catalog; an annual membership at 100 DKK providing discounts and event access; corporate partnership packages for CSR buyers in two tiers (Small at 5,000 DKK/year and Large at 20,000 DKK/year with branded honey, logo on beehives, exhibition hive, and live-stream access); a symbolic bee adoption at 10 DKK that funds operations; and educational presentations and apiary tours at an indicative 5,500 DKK during bee season (April–August). Named corporate partners include OK, Pressalit, Odoo House, and Ø-Linjen. The business serves three primary segments: vulnerable citizens (as participants in the workforce), environmentally conscious consumers (as retail and e-commerce buyers), and corporate CSR partners (as annual subscription buyers). All marketing communications emphasize the dual social and environmental mission, with active channels on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletter, and partner referrals.
bistad firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- bistad
- Legal name
- bistad
- Website
- https://bistad.dk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- bistad is a registered Danish social-economy enterprise, founded 2012 in Aarhus, that operates beekeeping and handcraft beeswax production while providing employment to vulnerable citizens. It sells honey, candles, and related products via its own webshop, a domestic retail and partner-webshop network, corporate CSR partnership packages, memberships, and educational apiary tours.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
bistad industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisanal Honey and Beeswax Products
- NAICS
- Apiculture (11291), Apiculture (112910)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beeswax Production & Processing (AFAEAHAB), Organic Apiculture (Beekeeping) (AFAEAMAG), Commercial Pollination Services (Hive Rental) (AFAEAHAG)
Keywords
Where bistad is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aarhus C
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
bistad business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Sale of honey, beeswax candles, beeswax wraps, bee-related merchandise (postcards, BI-VIS illustrations), and gift boxes. Revenue from one-time product purchases across multiple price points.
- Annual Membership: Annual membership at 100 DKK providing discounts on all products, newsletter access, and eligibility for events. Membership year runs January 1 to December 31.
- Corporate Partnership Packages: Two partnership tiers: Large package (20,000 DKK/year) includes company logo on beehive, 120 jars of honey with company logo, exhibition hive display, live stream access; Small package (5,000 DKK/year) includes 40 jars of honey with company logo.
- Bee Adoption Program: Symbolic adoption of a bee for 10 DKK, with confirmation email containing downloadable adoption certificate. Supports bistad's work with bees and vulnerable citizens.
- Educational Presentations and Apiary Tours: Educational talks on beekeeping, social work, and bistad operations. During bee season (April-August), visits to apiaries and honey extraction experiences. Indicative price: 5,500 DKK, adjustable based on participants and event scope.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Honey products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beeswax candles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Other products |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bee adoption |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Postcards and illustrations |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate partnership packages |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Educational presentations and apiary tours |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
bistad product offering
Product offeringCore offering
bistad operates a Danish social economy enterprise that produces and sells artisanal honey and handcrafted beeswax products (candles, blocks, leather care, wraps). All products are made from beeswax sourced from the Green Pool (Grønne Pulje) of pesticide-free apiaries, with honey cold-pressed and separated by apiary and season. Production employs socially vulnerable citizens as part of the company's registered social economy mission.
Product overview
bistad is a social enterprise e-commerce platform offering a diverse portfolio of bee-related and artisanal products centered around Danish beekeeping and social inclusion. The core product lineup consists of honey products (125g and 250g varieties), beeswax candles in multiple formats (tealights, votives, pillar candles, advent candles, Christmas tree candles, and roll-your-own DIY kits), and accessories (ceramic candle holders, leather care, reusable cotton bags). Supporting products include postcards featuring Anne Zidore's bee artwork series, BI-VIS bee illustrations (black/white, color, and premium A3 gold editions), a honey recipe cookbook, and beeswax blocks for crafts. The platform also offers symbolic adoption and membership programs, corporate partnership packages, and presentation/talk services. Products are handcrafted in Denmark using beeswax from certified pesticide-free apiaries (Green Pool), with production involving vulnerable citizens. The e-commerce checkout integrates Worldline payment processing for card and mobile payments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Honning 125 g
- Honning 250 g
- Hånddyppede fødselsdagslys
- Kalenderlys
- Fyrfadslys af bivoks refill (8 stk)
- Fyrfadslys af bivoks med glasstage (8 stk)
- Fyrfadslys af bivoks MIX (4 i glas + 4 refill)
- Kertelys (6 stk)
- Hånddyppede bordlys (2 stk)
- Juletræslys af bivoks, hånddyppede (20 stk)
- Bloklys af bivoks 7,5 cm
- Bloklys af bivoks 14 cm
- Lys i glas
- Rul selv bivokslys – bordlys
- Rul selv bivokslys – juletræslys
- Kalender-bloklys
- Adventstalsæt (sort/stål/messing) + 4 lys
- Ren bivoks (60-65 g block)
- Læderpleje
- Mulepose i genbrugt bomuld
- Skåle til bloklys (Jette Sørensen keramik)
- Gaveæske og gavepose
- Kogebog "Ja tak – mad med kærlighed"
- Postkort fra Sværm-serien (Anne Zidore)
- BI-VIS bee illustrations
- Medlemsskab (annual membership)
- Adopter en bi (bee adoption)
- Partnerskab – Den store pakke
- Partnerskab – Den lille pakke
- Foredrag (presentations and apiary tours)
Quantifiable outcome
- 1/3 of global food production depends on bee pollination
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use bistad
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
bistad technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
bistad partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OKcoreOK collaborates with bistad as a CSR initiative, viewing it as an opportunity to give vulnerable citizens a helping hand while doing something good for the environment. The partnership aligns with OK's desire to support local initiatives and associations making a difference in their immediate community.
- Ø-LinjencoreØ-Linjen has collaborated with bistad through their sister project Ø-Haven, continuing the partnership when the green garden was made permanent at Aarhus Ø. The collaboration benefits the project, bees, plants, and bistad's social work with particularly vulnerable citizens.
- PressalitcorePressalit's partnership with bistad serves two main purposes: increasing bee population and ensuring crucial pollination for food production, and creating employment for socially vulnerable citizens who find a place in the labor market through meaningful work.
- Odoo HousecoreOdoo House supports bistad to make a difference for vulnerable citizens and focus on the environment. They have already hired citizens who need extra support and emphasize sustainability in their hosting operations.
- E-stimateminorJørgen C. Friis, Founder & Partner of E-stimate, serves on bistad's board of directors, providing strategic guidance and business expertise to support bistad's operations.
- Sparekassen KronjyllandminorLocal savings bank partnership supporting bistad's social and environmental mission in the Aarhus region.
- ViktechminorCorporate partner supporting bistad's mission through the partnership program.
- MakeableminorSocial enterprise platform partnership supporting bistad's visibility and mission.
- Grant ThorntonminorProfessional services firm partnership supporting bistad's operations.
- AlvineminorConsulting firm partnership supporting bistad.
- Zephyr ConsultingminorConsulting partnership supporting bistad's mission.
- International Timber TradingminorSponsor/partnership supporting bistad's operations.
- Foodjob NordicminorFood industry job platform partnership.
- AgroFood ParkminorAgri-food innovation park partnership supporting bistad.
- Anne ZidoreminorLocal artist Anne Zidore granted bistad permission to use images from her 'Sværm' (Swarm) painting series free of charge to support their work. Revenue from postcard sales goes entirely to bistad's biodiversity and social work.
- Jette Sørensen (Ceramicist)minorLocal ceramicist Jette Sørensen creates bowls for block candles, made from Danish blue clay fired at 200 degrees lower than traditional stoneware. She prioritizes minimal climate footprint using local materials.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
bistad competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wedderspoon: US/NZ premium raw manuka honey brand with a portfolio of honey, beeswax-based skincare and related products. Comparable to bistad in emphasizing raw, traceable honey, monofloral/provenance differentiation and a diversified SKU lineup across food and lifestyle beeswax items.
- Nature Nate's Honey: US-based raw, unfiltered honey brand sold through retail and direct-to-consumer channels with strong purity positioning. Comparable to bistad in emphasizing minimally processed honey, traceable sourcing and premium pricing, though without the beeswax candle and social-mission overlay.
- Comvita: New Zealand-based premium honey and bee-derived products company offering manuka honey, beeswax candles and related goods globally. Closely comparable to bistad in product range (honey + value-added beeswax items), premium positioning, and storytelling around bee provenance and health.
- Manuka Health: Specialist producer of manuka honey and propolis-based health products with strong provenance branding. Like bistad, it sells premium honey, beeswax-derived wellness/cosmetic items, and relies heavily on supply-chain storytelling tied to specific apiary sources.
Broad incumbents
- Rowse Honey: UK's largest honey brand, offering a broad honey range plus beeswax candles and related products across major retail. Comparable to bistad in beeswax candle and honey SKU breadth, but operates at incumbent scale across mass retail rather than a social-enterprise, single-country niche.
Others
- Specialisterne: Danish-founded social enterprise employing people on the autism spectrum in IT and business services. Highly comparable to bistad in social-economy model, employment of vulnerable citizens, board structure and CSR partnership appeal to Danish corporates, even though the underlying product is services rather than bee products.
- Danmarks Biavlerforening: National Danish beekeepers' association representing hobbyist and commercial beekeepers. Relevant ecosystem peer for bistad, whose chairman Eigil Pedersen sits on its board; it influences industry standards, training and policy that directly shape bistad's operating environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
bistad social profiles
Digital presencebistad financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
bistad leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
bistad funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
bistad 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 bistad
What does bistad do?
bistad operates a Danish social economy enterprise that produces and sells artisanal honey and handcrafted beeswax products (candles, blocks, leather care, wraps). All products are made from beeswax sourced from the Green Pool (Grønne Pulje) of pesticide-free apiaries, with honey cold-pressed and separated by apiary and season. Production employs socially vulnerable citizens as part of the company's registered social economy mission.
Is bistad a public or private company?
bistad is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was bistad founded?
bistad was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is bistad based?
bistad is headquartered in Aarhus C, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does bistad make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are annual Membership, corporate Partnership Packages, bee Adoption Program and educational Presentations and Apiary Tours.
Who are bistad's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wedderspoon, Nature Nate's Honey, Comvita and Manuka Health. Rowse Honey is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Specialisterne and Danmarks Biavlerforening.
Does bistad have an API?
No public API is recorded for bistad.
What industry is bistad in?
bistad's product category is Artisanal Honey and Beeswax Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAHAM, Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients), with a secondary code of AFAEAHAB, Beeswax Production & Processing. Its NAICS code is 11291 and its SIC code is 2000.