50 | Multiple awards and global markets The company runs several thousand beehives across Canterbury and the West Coast. Tranzalpine Honey T T Bernadette Cooney PRODUCTION Founded in 1910 by the Newton family, and now led by Yuriy and Victoria Soshnikov, Rolleston-based TranzAlpine Honey has grown into the country’s largest organic honey producer and exporter, sending its products to more than 28 countries. “New Zealand honey is 100% the best honey in the world – there’s no doubt about it,” says Yuriy. “What makes us different is that we’ve stuck to our organic principles for generations. We don’t cut corners, we don’t use chemicals, and we look after our bees like family.” The company runs several thousand beehives across Canterbury and the West Coast, where bees forage on native bush like manuka, rata, kamahi, kanuka and bush honey sources, well removed from farms using agrichemicals. They operate both the apiary and the processing in-house, from hive to jar, with no outsourcing. Every jar can be traced back to a specific hive and location. Tranzalpine Honey has held BioGro organic certification since 1993, making it among the oldest continual organic honey producers in New Zealand. Products are also non-GMO certified, vegetarian and halal certified. The company has its production facility at 14 Hanover Place in Rolleston, having moved from Ashburton around 12 months ago to a facility that’s about double the size in production capacity. “We’ve got 12 skilled employees, many of whom are long-serving and moved locations with us. Everyone does a bit of everything, and that’s what makes the team so strong,” says Yuriy. The honey producers’ core range includes premium manuka honey, white clover, rata, kamahi, kanuka and bush honeys, along with propolis and beeswax. With an increasing focus on “value-added” health products, such as throat sprays, honey fusions and natural cold remedies, Tranzalpine Honey’s innovative approach has earned it several awards, including Organic Exporter of the Year in 2024. This year, Tranzsalpine Honey won two gold awards at the Outstanding Food Producers Awards for its Premium Squeezable Organic Honey with Lavender and its limited-edition Organic Manuka Honey MG1000+ handpacked with wax stamps and described by Yuriy as “medicine in a jar”. “Our strategy is to add value. We’re making products people can use when they have sore throats – an alternative to synthetic medicines. Also pet-wellness products.” While TranzAlpine honey is available in New Zealand health stores, organic chains and online, a large amount is exported. Europe remains the biggest market, but North America and Southeast Asia are rapidly growing. The company recently launched in Mauritius and sees opportunities in emerging economies. “Europeans are well-educated about organics, and US consumers are catching up,” Yuriy says. Despite challenges in global economies, supply chain disruption and the impact of the US 15% tariff on imported products, the company remains positive, viable, and committed to product development. Global threats or concerns about bee decline tend not to impact New Zealand as much, due to its relative isolation. “More importantly, good beekeeping quality matters,” says Yuriy. “From good hive care to maintaining organic certification throughout gives a competitive edge.” C H A R T E R E D A C C O U N T A N T S Hooker Associates Limited Proudly supporting Tranzalpine Honey for all their accounting & business consulting advice. Hooker Associates Limited - Chartered Accountants 4 Bounty Street, Christchurch | Phone: 03 374 5448 E-mail: info@hookerca.co.nz | www.hookerassociates.co.nz www.easybigtrees.co.nz Prunus ‘Accolade’, Queenstown This Blossom October Boldy
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