No more cheap fondant

[user 3509]

Just had a phone call from Baco Western, who we have bought fondant off for the last 3 years for ourselves and other association members, to say that they will no longer do business with us as we do not spend over £2,500 a year with them! Obviously they can afford to turn business away no matter how small.

 

[wightbees]

That doesn't make sense as the small bakery near me doesn't spend that? Wonder what's happening.

 

[Poly Hive]

Baco are an odd business with some areas willing and others not. I was refused in the East Mids while others in the North West got. *shrug*

PH

 

[philipm]

Not a very good way to run a business but this seems to be a tend with big companies.

 

[user 3509]

Baco Western is different from the other Bacos in that it is a co-operative. We had to pay a £100 membership fee before they would sell anything to us. We have now been told that that fee will be returned to us. When we signed up we were told that there were a lot of beekeepers in the region that just bought fondant once a year, so presumably they will all be getting phone calls as well. There was never any mention of a minimum spend in the year.

 

[Poly Hive]

So you need to buy 166 packs at £15. Is it worth asking your local FB group and or Assoc if that is possible?

PH

 

[enrico]

Just ask a local baker to get it for you at trade.
E

 

[Hivemaker.]

So you need to buy 166 packs at £15.

Be nearer to 284 packs a little over 3.5 tonnes, as the current price is £8.80 per 12.5kg.

 

[Poly Hive]

Ah well the last I bought was closer to the £15 so might be a good time to buy some winter supplies eh?

PH

 

[Eyeman]

Baco north west are asking £18.50 in their catalogue, bought some elsewhere for £16

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Baco Western is different from the other Bacos in that it is a co-operative.

They all are - Bako is just short of baker's cooperative.
Every region is autonomous with each manager having the freedom to decide on trading rules and prices. Ours found that by cutting his markup to a minimum he was getting a much larger turnover.
Looks like you've got an a~sehole in charge of yours

 

[Poly Hive]

Changing gears....

Hivemaker or anyone with considerable large scale experience?

Do you think the commercial fondants with added supplements/pollen are better than plain bakers fondant?

I am wondering as my new Assoc is planning on buying a quantity of the enhanced stuff and being a bit canny I do wonder if it is worth the extra money?

PH

 

[Stiffy]

Just had a phone call from Baco Western, who we have bought fondant off for the last 3 years for ourselves and other association members, to say that they will no longer do business with us as we do not spend over £2,500 a year with them! Obviously they can afford to turn business away no matter how small.

Not had a call and spend a lot less than that, our order has always been delivered by the rep when he is in area.
Will see what BF can get fondant at
S

 

[For want of a better word]

Get mine via our bee breeding group, same product that we also buy from Beefarmers.

Tried adding the "pollen" supplements, but bees seemed to leave it in the feeder... obviously the girls are not fond of genetically modified soya protein or peanut butter!


Yeghes da

 

[oliver90owner]

-fondants with added supplements/pollen-

Think here just a tad. What do bees survive on over winter? Honey or pollen?

About all pollen would do is add to the cleansing flights required, I would think. Maybe useful when brooding.... but bees have stored carbohydrates for energy production in winter for millenia, so why try to change it? Why do they store honey and pollen separately? Bees are not stupid, so they store the bits, they need at different times, in different locations.

 

[Vortex]

You need Cake Stuff https://www.cake-stuff.com/.. I bought my fondant from them last year 5x12.5Kg boxes £80 inc free delivery.. haven't checked their current prices

 

[user 3509]

Vortex, that works put to £16 per box. I have been paying only £8 per box ever since I started using Baco.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Hivemaker or anyone with considerable large scale experience?

Do you think the commercial fondants with added supplements/pollen are better than plain bakers fondant?

No, plain bakers fondant is good, no need to waste money on expensive fondant.

....and..

I am always VERY wary of giving bees anything that is not plain simple sugars in winter or late autumn.

Anything else accumulates in the gut of the wintering bees most of the time and accelerates the need for defecation. In a long cold winter period of confinement that is dangerous.

Different matter in spring, but as a winter feed I would not use it.

Then there is the price................four times the cost of fondant, which is clean and reliable.

 

[Eyeman]

Vortex, that works put to £16 per box. I have been paying only £8 per box ever since I started using Baco.

It's not £8 up here in the north west.

 

[alldigging]

It's not £8 up here in the north west.

http://simonthebeekeeper.co.uk/our-products/feeders-food/bee-food/fondant

12.5 Kg (27.5LB) Fondant Block
Perfect for Winter spring and summers feeds
£16.99

Royal Mail £6.99

Total: £23.98