Member Article

The sweet success of Haughton Honey from hobby to business

Cris Reeves started beekeeping as a hobby in 2000, since then his hobby has spiraled out into a commercial venture.

Starting by selling to packers almost anonymously the company now has its own brand and sells in smaller containers as Haughton Honey.

Cris invested around £80k into the company and works with two other beekeepers.

Last year they sold 28 tonnes of honey and the company is already profitable with sales rising month on month.

Haughton Honey has retailers across the North West stocking them and is ordered online to be delivered all over the UK.

Cris said: “We’re not natural sales people.

“We’ve invested heavily in equipment, the website and social media and the website launched in July 2014, so that is essentially when we became a company.

“The biggest challenge is breaking into new retail environments, persuading a buyer to stock our products.

“Our branding is very bright so it sells well it’s just securing that first opportunity that is the biggest challenge.

“Getting into targeted retailers can take hard work.

“We are a fun, colourful vibrant business.

“We are bold, essentially selling spring and summer in a jar.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .