Selling Bulk UK VS EU?

[NorthenBee]

Hello fellow beekeepers,

We are exploring the possibility of selling our honey in bulk in UK or EU.

Anyone had any experience with either? I knew some beekeepers sold to Germany and such but don't know any details.

Obviously we would be looking into selling about 5-10tons so no buckets.

Would be interested in the process from A to Z.

Thank you,
Scott

 

[Into the lions den]

For export in bulk forget it unless you can do a full load. Even then its not that simple.

You don't specify what type of honey either. Important to remember that normal blossom honey is a commodity product in Europe and the prevailing bulk rates there are way below UK rates...in fact about half to two thirds....and for such honey the Scottish/UK provenance means little...its just a polyflora blending product to them.

If it is heather it is different but you are always up against it on price there too. The Norwegians habitually try to offload their surplus and last autumn they had in the hundreds of tonnes to get rid of at a price in the vicinity of £6000/t delivered. Domestic market for bulk heather is well above that at close to 9000. However...to get anything other than beekeeper to beekeeper sales it needs to be packed in drums...which must be new, and are non returnable. None of the packers or their quality systems will nowadays accept old/reused drums.

Bottom line is you are best selling domestically at present. Bucket trade to other beekeeper/packers is aften going to bring the top price. There are only a few who handle drums. The stories about the Germans buying up the heather honey are pretty historic...not known that to happen since the 1990's and the prices over there are now a good bit lower than here. UK heather also often has issues meeting their quality criteria as the are very much pure Calluna fans.

 

[steve1958]

Are you a Beekeeper Scott, or is this foreign honey you are importing to sell?

 

[NorthenBee]

For export in bulk forget it unless you can do a full load. Even then its not that simple.

You don't specify what type of honey either. Important to remember that normal blossom honey is a commodity product in Europe and the prevailing bulk rates there are way below UK rates...in fact about half to two thirds....and for such honey the Scottish/UK provenance means little...its just a polyflora blending product to them.

If it is heather it is different but you are always up against it on price there too. The Norwegians habitually try to offload their surplus and last autumn they had in the hundreds of tonnes to get rid of at a price in the vicinity of £6000/t delivered. Domestic market for bulk heather is well above that at close to 9000. However...to get anything other than beekeeper to beekeeper sales it needs to be packed in drums...which must be new, and are non returnable. None of the packers or their quality systems will nowadays accept old/reused drums.

Bottom line is you are best selling domestically at present. Bucket trade to other beekeeper/packers is aften going to bring the top price. There are only a few who handle drums. The stories about the Germans buying up the heather honey are pretty historic...not known that to happen since the 1990's and the prices over there are now a good bit lower than here. UK heather also often has issues meeting their quality criteria as the are very much pure Calluna fans.

Thats really helpful thank you for taking the time to explain in such great detail. One question - do you know who are the bulk buyers in UK then? I don't imagine there being too many

 

[NorthenBee]

Are you a Beekeeper Scott, or is this foreign honey you are importing to sell?

Would you like to see my papers?

 

[Pembroke]

I'm guessing but Rowse, Home | Rowse Honey Paynes Paynes Honey and Local Honey Man Local Honey Man | 100% Pure British Honey, Gifts & Products would be worth looking at. Oh and also Homepage - British Honey Prdoucers Ltd.

 

[Into the lions den]

Thats really helpful thank you for taking the time to explain in such great detail. One question - do you know who are the bulk buyers in UK then? I don't imagine there being too many

Of course...but will not post that on open Forum. PM me. Very much depends what you have to sell...different buyers for different honey..and blossom honey is a bit friendless at the moment due to high stock levels at the packers.