L'ABEILLE NOIRE

What L'ABEILLE NOIRE does

L'Abeille Noire is a small artisanal beekeeping enterprise headquartered in Amay, Wallonia, Belgium (Rue des Trois Sœurs, 14A), founded in 2021. The company's stated specialisation is the exclusive breeding and promotion of Apis mellifera mellifera, the black bee of Chimay, conducted inside a protected zone around Chimay and Momignies coordinated by Mellifica that limits genetic introgression from imported subspecies. Genetic purity is verified through mitochondrial DNA analysis performed in collaboration with Mellifica, and the operation uses the natural Varromed protocol (oxalic and formic acids) for varroa control, Dadant and Warré hive formats, and self-manufactured Swedish paint for hive protection.

The commercial offering spans four streams: (i) genetically verified black bee queens (naturally mated at Chimay, instrumentally inseminated F0, and virgin queens/royal cells) and nuclei sold to beekeepers; (ii) raw hive products including honey in 250g and 500g formats, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and honey spirits; (iii) value-added goods such as lacto-fermented mustard with black bee honey, double-fermented bio honey vinegar, and spiced honey for mulled wine; and (iv) pollination services and melliferous plants. Distribution runs through the company's own e-commerce storefront, direct sales at the Amay premises, and a single third-party retail point (Freddy Fromage).

The customer base is composed primarily of Belgian individual consumers seeking certified artisanal products (carrying the 'Miel de Noire' Slow Food Sentinel label and 'Artisanat Certifié' from SPW Wallonia), hobbyist and professional beekeepers purchasing queens and nuclei, and a small set of sustainable farms hosting hives for educational and agritourism purposes (e.g., Domaine des 2 elles). Marketing is content-led, anchored on a blog with hundreds of articles, an active YouTube channel, and Instagram and Facebook presences. No funding, no enterprise contracts, no disclosed headcount beyond the 1–10 range, and no public revenue figures are available.

Name

L'ABEILLE NOIRE

Legal name

L'Abeille Noire

Website

https://labeillenoire.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

L'Abeille Noire is a small Wallonian artisanal beekeeping operation that exclusively breeds Apis mellifera mellifera (Chimay black bee) and sells genetically verified queens, nuclei, honey, hive products, value-added foods, melliferous plants and pollination services to Belgian consumers, beekeepers and sustainable farms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Beekeeping

NAICS

Apiculture (112910)

akta.pro primary industry

Honey Production & Extraction (AFAEAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bee Breeding & Genetics (Trait Selection, Stock Improvement) (AFAEAHAH), Queen Rearing & Nucleus Colony (Nuc) Production (AFAEAHAE), Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM)

Keywords

• Artisanal beekeeping
• Black bee breeding
• Honey production
• Hive products
• Pollination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Amay

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Hive Products (Retail): Sale of honey (various varieties: summer flower, acacia, forest, spring flower, chestnut), propolis, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, mustards, honey vinegar, honey-spice mixes for mulled wine, and spiritueux (honey spirits/hydromel). Sold via own e-commerce and at the physical location.
2. Black Bee Queens and Nuclei: Sale of black bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) queens — fertilised (naturally mated at Chimay), instrumentally inseminated F0, and virgin queens/royal cells — and bee nuclei to beekeepers establishing or expanding apiaries.
3. Pollination Services: Pollination services offered to farmers and landowners, leveraging the company's black bee colonies.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

L'Abeille Noire is a Walloon artisanal beekeeping operation that exclusively breeds the Apis mellifera mellifera (black bee of Chimay). It sells black bee queens (fertilised, F0 inseminated, virgin), bee nuclei, and a full range of hive products (honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, value-added items like mustard and honey vinegar), and offers pollination services to farmers and rural estates. Operations are centred in Amay, Belgium, with genetic purity verified through mitochondrial DNA analysis and beekeeping practices grounded in natural, low-intervention methods.

Product overview

L'Abeille Noire is a traditional beekeeping company specializing in the preservation and breeding of Apis mellifera mellifera (Black Bee of Chimay). The company operates as a unified offering centered around sustainable apiculture and hive product production. Core products include black bee honey in multiple sizes (500g, 250g), black queen bees (fertilized, inseminated F0, and virgin queens), pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and beeswax. The company also produces value-added products including artisanal mustard with black bee honey, bio honey vinegar through double fermentation, hydromel (honey wine), and spiced honey for mulled wine. All products carry 'Artisanat Certifié' certification from SPW Wallonia and bear the Slow Food Sentinelle 'Miel de Noire' label.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Miel de Noire: Honey product line labeled under Slow Food Sentinelle 'Miel de Noire' certification, produced from black bee apiaries in the Chimay region.

Products and services

• Miel 500 g Raw honey from black bees of Chimay, sold in 500g jars. Local, equitable, and artisan-certified product under the Slow Food 'Miel de Noire' Sentinelle label and Artisanat Certifié.
• Miel 250 g Raw honey from black bees of Chimay, sold in 250g jars. Local, equitable, and artisan-certified product under the 'Miel de Noire' label.
• Reine fécondée à Chimay Fertilised black queen bee from the Chimay region, naturally mated in the protected zone, bred for genetic purity of Apis mellifera mellifera lineage M. Sold to beekeepers establishing or expanding apiaries.
• Reine inséminée F0 Instrumentally inseminated F0 black queen bee, the highest genetic quality, with verified pure lineage M (Apis mellifera mellifera) confirmed by mitochondrial DNA analysis. Sold to professional beekeepers.
• Reine vierge ou cellule royale Virgin queen bee or royal cell for breeding programmes, intended for experienced beekeepers.
• Pollen Fresh bee-collected pollen from black bees, harvested seasonally.
• Propolis Raw propolis collected by black bees, valued for its health properties.
• Gelée royale Fresh royal jelly produced by black bees, available seasonally.
• Cire d'abeille Natural beeswax produced by black bee colonies.
• Spiritueux (Vin de Miel/Hydromel) Honey wine (hydromel) and honey-based spirits produced artisanally from black-bee honey.
• Moutarde à l'ancienne au Miel de Noire Artisanal mustard made with lactofermented mustard seeds, 20% black-bee honey, and bio honey vinegar; Artisanat Certifié and rich in probiotics.
• Vinaigre de miel bio Bio honey vinegar produced through double fermentation (alcoholic then acetic), aged to 7% acidity, unfiltered and unpasteurised.
• Confiseries & Épicerie Assorted honey-based confectionery and grocery products including spiced honey for mulled wine and other artisanal foods.
• Pollinisation (Pollination Services) Pollination services offered to farmers and landowners using the company's black-bee colonies, supporting crop pollination and biodiversity.
• Plantes mellifères (Melliferous Plants) Melliferous (bee-friendly) plants offered to beekeepers and gardeners to support forage for black-bee colonies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Black bee colonies consume 10–15 kg of honey over winter vs. up to 20 kg for other strains, reflecting the black bee's frugal nature.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mellifica (Virelles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMellifica is a volunteer organisation at Virelles dedicated to the preservation of the black bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). L'Abeille Noire participates in the protected zone around Chimay and Momignies coordinated by Mellifica, which limits genetic introgression from imported bees and enables natural mating of verified black bee queens. DNA analyses are conducted in collaboration with Mellifica to confirm queen lineage.
• Domaine des 2 ellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomaine des 2 elles, dedicated to saving endangered species and sustainable market gardening, hosts black bee hives managed by L'Abeille Noire. The domain has an educational and didactic character, welcoming visitors and offering a connection between nature conservation and beekeeping. L'Abeille Noire is installing Warré hives (biruches) on the domain as part of a shared project.
• Freddy FromageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFreddy Fromage is a cheese shop in the region that stocks and sells L'Abeille Noire honey and hive products, providing a physical retail presence beyond the company's own e-commerce and location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• BIBBA (Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association): UK organization promoting native bee conservation and breeding. Related ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor — useful for understanding the network of native-bee breeders across Europe that L'Abeille Noire belongs to.
• Thomas Apiculture: Major French beekeeping equipment supplier serving both hobbyist and professional beekeepers. Comparable as part of the European beekeeping value chain (queen purchasers, hive products) but does not produce honey or breed queens itself.
• Mann Lake: Major US-based beekeeping equipment and supplies retailer. Not a direct competitor but a useful comparable for the broader beekeeping supply-chain ecosystem in which L'Abeille Noire operates (queen buyers, hobbyist beekeepers).

Direct peers

• BeeWeaver Apiaries: US-based queen breeder focused on treatment-free, locally adapted bee genetics with verifiable lineage. Comparable business model (queen breeder + hive products) and shared focus on native/local stock, though in a different subspecies and geography.
• Old Sol Apiaries: US-based queen breeder producing locally adapted, mite-resistant queens. Comparable in the queen-breeding value proposition and small-scale artisanal model, but with a different subspecies focus and North American market.
• Mellifica (Virelles): Volunteer organization based in Virelles, Belgium, dedicated to preservation of Apis mellifera mellifera (black bee). Directly comparable: same subspecies focus, same Chimay/Momignies protected zone, and active DNA-verification collaboration with L'Abeille Noire.

Broad incumbents

• Lune de Miel: French premium honey brand with broad retail distribution. Comparable product mix (single-origin, artisanal honeys), but a much larger incumbent with conventional bee-stock sourcing rather than native-bee specialization.
• Famille Michaud Apiculteurs: One of France's largest honey producers and packers, operating across multiple bee-derived product categories. Comparable in core honey and hive-product portfolio, but at much larger scale and broader geographic reach than L'Abeille Noire's artisanal single-subspecies operation.
• Comvita: New Zealand-based global premium honey brand (Manuka) with vertically integrated hive-to-shelf operations. Comparable as a premium, traceability-led honey brand but operates at multinational scale across different bee species.
• Conapi: Italian honey cooperative aggregating production from thousands of beekeepers for retail and food-service channels. Comparable in hive-product range but operates at cooperative scale, lacking the single-subspecies genetic-purity positioning of L'Abeille Noire.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCa-D93VdiMY7znOU3sidoNA
• Facebookfacebook.com/labeillenoire.be
• Instagraminstagram.com/labeillenoire.be
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l-abeille-noire-amay

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 L'ABEILLE NOIRE