LES RUCHERS DU BORN

What LES RUCHERS DU BORN does

Les Ruchers du Born is an artisanal beekeeping enterprise headquartered at 810 avenue de Mimizan in Pontenx-les-Forges, Landes, France (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), operating since 1991 under both SAS and GAEC legal structures. The business is run by two partner beekeepers, Thomas Mollet and L\u00e9na\u00efc Lecr\u00e9nais, who manage approximately 1,000 bee colonies using transhumant apiculture, moving hives multiple times per year to follow floral cycles in the Landes forest and coastal ecosystem. The product catalog spans roughly 25 SKUs across single-origin and blended monofloral honeys (Acacia, Bourdaine, Bruy\u00e8re, Littoral, Ciste, Ch\u00e2taignier, Arbousier, Callune, Fleurs des Landes), value-added derivatives (Dunella honey-hazelnut spread, honey vinegar, beeswax candles in multiple shapes, propolis tincture, lip balms, Baume des Pharaons, honey soaps, candies), and gift sets, with several SKUs certified AB/Bio organic and multiple award-winning varieties.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer via an owned e-commerce storefront (ruchersduborn.fr) with home delivery and Pickup relay network across France, an on-site farm shop with click-and-collect, and agritourism experiences (self-guided visits, treasure hunts for children, apiarium observation, flower-and-bee animations, hive-opening sessions). B2B revenue is generated through OEM/wholesale arrangements with local artisans (La Reine Friande for candies, Savonnerie Dalbos&Co for honey soaps, Le monde d'Eva for beeswax soap, La maison de la noisette for hazelnut paste used in Dunella) and channel partnerships with agricultural and culinary networks (Bienvenue \u00e0 la Ferme since 1992, Coll\u00e8ge Culinaire de France since 2021, Gourmand des Landes). The operation holds Qualit\u00e9 Tourisme (2020, now superseded), Tourisme et Handicap (2022) across all four disability categories, and Destination d'Excellence (2025) certifications, with shipping enabled to France, multiple EU countries, and DROM-COM overseas territories.

Name

LES RUCHERS DU BORN

Legal name

Les Ruchers du Born SAS

Website

https://ruchersduborn.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Ruchers du Born is a French artisanal beekeeping operation in Pontenx-les-Forges, Landes, founded in 1991. Two professional beekeepers manage ~1,000 colonies, producing award-winning monofloral honeys, beeswax derivatives, cosmetics, and agritourism experiences sold direct-to-consumer and via local OEM partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Honey and Bee Products

NAICS

Apiculture (112910)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM)

Keywords

• Artisanal honey production
• Beekeeping products
• Monofloral honey varieties
• Farm tourism experiences
• Organic beeswax goods

Headquarters

HQ city

Pontenx les Forges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Honey and bee product sales: Primary revenue from direct sales of honey varieties (Acacia, Bourdaine, Bruyère, Callune, Arbousier, Littoral, Fleurs des Landes, Châtaignier), derived products (pâte à tartiner Dunella, beeswax candles, honey soaps, lip balms, propolis tincture, honey candies), and beeswax blocks.
2. Farm tourism experiences: Revenue from visitor experiences including self-guided farm visits, treasure hunts for children, apiarium observation areas, and experiential animations (flower and bee animations, hive opening experiences).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Les Ruchers du Born is an artisanal beekeeping operation that produces and sells single-origin monofloral and multifloral honeys from the Landes forest region, including Acacia, Bourdaine, Bruyère, Littoral, Ciste, Arbousier, Callune, and wildflower varieties. The company also offers value-added bee-derived products such as honey spreads, beeswax candles, soaps, lip balms, propolis tinctures, and candies, alongside on-farm tourism experiences including guided visits and educational animations.

Product overview

Les Ruchers du Born is an artisanal beekeeping operation in Pontenx-les-Forges, Landes, France, founded in 1991. The company operates as a partnership of two professional beekeepers managing approximately 1,000 bee colonies. Their product portfolio centers on single-origin monofloral and multifloral honeys from the Landes forest region, including acacia, bourdaine, heather (bruyère), littoral, cistus, chestnut-bramble blend, arbutus, callune, and wildflower varieties. Beyond core honey products, they offer value-added bee-derived products including the Dunella honey-hazelnut spread, honey vinegars and meads, beeswax candles and blocks, propolis mother tinctures, cosmetic balms and lip balms, and artisan soaps. Their honeys are sold in various pot sizes (250g, 300g, 450g, 500g) and as gift sets. Several products have won awards at the Concours des Saveurs and Concours des Miels de Nouvelle-Aquitaine competitions. The company operates an on-farm shop, online store with delivery to France and EU countries, and offers farm visits, bee-related animations, and experiential tourism activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miel des Landes Bio : ACACIA Organic acacia honey from the Landes region, sold in 300g and 450g pots to individual consumers seeking single-origin floral honey for personal consumption or gifting.
• Miel des Landes Bio : BOURDAINE & RONCE Organic bourdaine and bramble honey blend from Landes with fine, fruity, balsamic aromas, available in 300g and 450g jars.
• Miel des Landes : BRUYERE Summer-harvested heather honey from the Landes forest with pronounced aromas, complex woody flavors and almond fragrance, sold in 250g and 500g pots.
• Miel des Landes Bio : LITTORAL Organic littoral honey from the Landes coast with intense fruity notes of cooked and dried fruits, awarded Gold Medal at the 2023 and 2024 Nouvelle-Aquitaine Honey Competition.
• Miel des Landes Bio : CISTE Rare organic cistus honey with woody, malty, resinous and fruity flavors, awarded Gold Medal at the 2024 and 2025 Nouvelle Aquitaine Flavor Competition.
• Miel de Fleurs de Printemps des Landes Spring flower honey from Landes harvested from acacia and bourdaine blossoms, featuring high sweetness with fine, mild, floral and fruity notes.
• Miel des Landes Bio : Châtaignier & Ronce Organic chestnut and bramble honey from Landes characterized by fruity and woody flavors with slight bitterness at the finish.
• Miel des Landes : RONCE Bramble honey from Landes featuring exquisite sweetness with vegetal and floral flavors.
• Miel des Landes Bio : ARBOUSIER Organic strawberry tree (arbutus) honey from the Landes coast with fruity, spicy notes and pronounced bitterness; a flagship variety winning Gold Medal six consecutive years (2020-2025).
• Miel des Pyrénées Bio : Callune Organic heather (Calluna) honey from the Pyrénées produced in autumn in the Landes forest with exceptional woody and spicy flavors.
• Miel de Fleurs des Landes Wildflower honey from Landes harvested in summer from forest wildflowers featuring gentle sweetness with balanced aromas.
• Miel des Pyrénées : fleurs de montagne Mountain flower honey from the Pyrénées Ossau valley harvested from linden and bramble flowers with gentle, mentholated and fruity notes.
• Coffret découverte des miels des Landes Discovery gift set of 4 x 125g pots containing bourdaine, heather, littoral, and wildflower Landes honeys (total 500g) targeted at gifting and product discovery.
• Dunella, pâte à tartiner au miel Honey-hazelnut spread combining Landes honey with finely roasted hazelnut paste from Lot-et-Garonne, sold in 250g pots for direct consumer use.
• Boules fourrées au miel Honey-filled candy balls made with Landes wildflower honey, produced in partnership with La Reine Friande confectionery, sold in 150g bags.
• Bonbons au miel et à l'eucalyptus Honey and eucalyptus candy drops made with Landes wildflower honey, produced by La Reine Friande confectionery, in 150g bags.
• Pastilles au miel et à la propolis Honey and propolis lozenges made with Landes wildflower honey, produced by La Reine Friande confectionery, in 150g bags.
• Savon au miel des Landes Artisan honey soap from Landes, manufactured in partnership with Savonnerie Artisanale Dalbos&Co in Sanguinet, using cold saponification.
• Savon Pin des Landes Landes Pine artisan soap for hands and body, made with farm beeswax, produced in partnership with Le monde d'Eva in Biscarrosse via cold saponification.
• Baume à lèvres au miel et à la cire d'abeille Lip balm made with Landes wildflower honey and beeswax for deep hydration and lip protection, sold direct from the farm.
• Baume des pharaons Multi-purpose balm composed of olive oil, propolis, honey and beeswax for burns, dry hair, chapped lips, massage and after-sun care.
• Bougie moulée à la pure cire d'abeille Hand-poured pure beeswax candles available in multiple shapes including fir trees, pine cones, cylinders, honeycomb and teddy bear forms, made on-farm.
• Cire d'abeille, en pain de 150g Pure beeswax blocks (150g each) sold for crafting, DIY projects, and homemade recipes by hobbyists and artisans.
• Teinture-mère de propolis Mother tincture of propolis manufactured on the farm with 19% dry extract of propolis, sold in 120ml bottles for natural wellness use.
• Vinagre de miel (Honey Vinegar) Honey vinegar made from mead slowly fermented in oak barrels for approximately one year, sold directly to consumers through the on-site shop.
• Farm visits and experiential animations Self-guided farm visits, children's treasure hunts, apiarium observation areas, flower and bee animations, and hive opening experiences offered to tourists and visitors at the Pontenx-les-Forges farm.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collège Culinaire de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Member since 2021 of the culinary network connecting restaurateurs, artisans, and producers who share passion for quality food products. Network enables mutual inspiration, exchange, and co-creation among members.
• Bienvenue à la FermecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992Member since 1992 of the national farmer network that welcomes visitors to farms and promotes farm products. Provides visibility through the bienvenue-a-la-ferme.com platform and geolocation search for consumers seeking local farm products.
• Gourmand des LandesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmbassador of the young regional network of producers, artisans, and restaurateurs promoting Landes gastronomic expertise.
• La Reine FriandeminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerConfectionery manufacturer in Charente-Maritime (17) that produces honey candies (boules fourrées, eucalyptus pastilles, propolis pastilles) using Les Ruchers du Born honey.
• Savonnerie Artisanale Dalbos&Co (Le Sangui'nettoye)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerArtisanal soap maker in Sanguinet (40) that produces honey and beeswax soaps using farm products.
• Le monde d'EvaminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerProducer in Biscarrosse (40) that manufactures Pine of Landes beeswax soap for the farm using cold saponification.
• La maison de la noisetteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHazelnut producer in Lacépède (47) that supplies hazelnut paste for the Dunella honey spread, made at the farm from Landes honey and Lot-et-Garonne hazelnuts.
• All Water MimizanminorOthersWater sports provider near the farm offering nautical activities (lake and ocean) accessible to people with disabilities, also holding the Tourisme et Handicap label.
• L'Atelier des RésiniersminorOthersGîtes and bed-and-breakfast near Pontenx les Forges, housed in restored rosin distillery buildings on 4-hectare natural park, offering ecological accommodation for around 20 people.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lune de Miel: French honey brand now part of the Bonduelle group, producing a broad range of honeys and value-added honey products distributed through French mass-market retail. Comparable product breadth but operates at significantly larger scale and mass-market positioning rather than artisanal D2C.
• Barkman Honey: One of Canada's largest honey producers and packers, supplying private-label and branded honey across North America and international markets. Comparable in selling single-origin and specialty honeys but operates at industrial scale rather than artisanal D2C.
• Famille Mary: French artisanal honey house founded in 1921 in Nantes, producing a wide range of honeys, gingerbread, beeswax candles, and honey-based cosmetics through retail stores and online channels. Larger and broader portfolio than Les Ruchers du Born but comparable in premium artisanal positioning and value-added bee products.
• Rowse Honey: UK-based honey brand (part of the Hillsdown Holdings group) producing a broad range of honeys and honey-based products for UK and European mass-market retail. Larger scale and broader distribution than Les Ruchers du Born but operates in adjacent European premium and mass honey categories.
• Capilano Honey: Australia's largest honey company (ASX-listed), producing a wide range of honeys, Manuka-style honeys, and value-added bee products for domestic and export markets. Comparable value-added portfolio and international distribution but at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• La Maison du Miel: Parisian artisanal honey house founded in 1945, selling single-origin French honeys, honey candies, and honey-based cosmetics through a flagship retail store and online channels. Comparable in artisanal positioning, value-added portfolio, and D2C distribution model.

Emerging players

• Comvita: New Zealand-listed manuka honey producer with a diversified range of premium honeys, propolis, and bee-derived health products sold globally through D2C and specialty retail. Comparable in premium positioning, value-added product extension, and direct-to-consumer focus, but in a different geographic and floral terroir.
• Manuka Health: New Zealand manuka honey brand producing monofloral and multifloral honeys plus propolis and bee-derived health products for international markets. Comparable in single-origin monofloral focus, premium pricing, and value-added health/cosmetic line extensions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-ruchers-du-born

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 LES RUCHERS DU BORN