How to Start Your Own Honey Brand: Sourcing, Packaging & Labeling Tips
With consumers becoming more health-conscious and ingredient-aware, honey has emerged as a sought-after product — not only for retail but also as a key ingredient in F&B, skincare, and wellness industries. If you’re thinking of starting your own honey brand, now is the perfect time.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps, from sourcing to packaging and labeling, to help you build a honey brand that’s trusted, beautiful, and ready for market.
🍯 1. Choose the Right Type of Honey
The first and most important step is choosing the type of honey that fits your brand values and target customers. Some popular choices include:
- Raw multifloral honey – Versatile and familiar
- Monofloral honey – Like Longan, Manuka, Jarrah, Blackbutt, Marri or Lychee, which offer unique flavours and market appeal
- Manuka honey – Known for its medicinal properties (often more expensive)
- Infused honeys – Like lime, ginger, or rose, which work well for gifting and lifestyle brands
✅ At Hives Keeper, we offer single-origin raw honey, sustainably harvested in Thailand and Western Australia, including Longan Honey and our range of premium infused honeys.
🌿 2. Work With a Trusted Supplier (or Beekeeper)
Finding a reliable raw honey supplier or beekeeper is critical to ensuring product consistency and food safety.
When evaluating suppliers, look for:
- Direct access to hives and knowledge of origin
- Natural, unprocessed honey (no heating or blending)
- Experience with private label or white-label production
- Ability to scale with your brand growth
- Export-ready packaging and food-grade handling
📦 3. Decide on Packaging That Sells
Your packaging is the first thing customers see. It should reflect your brand identity and stand out on the shelf.
Common packaging formats:
- Glass jars (250g–500g) – Premium, sustainable, and gift-friendly
- Squeeze bottles or pouches – Great for casual or on-the-go use
- Mini jars – Ideal for hotel welcome packs or wedding favours
Don’t forget:
- Food safety seals (tamper-evident lids)
- Labels that comply with local food regulations
- Space for your logo, description, ingredients, and nutritional info
🏷️ 4. Get Your Branding and Labels Right
This is another very important strategic decision you need to make. Your label design should communicate quality, story, and trust.
Key label elements to include:
- Your brand name & logo
- Honey type (e.g. Raw Longan Honey, Infused Ginger Honey)
- Net weight and expiry date
- “100% Raw Honey” or “Product of Thailand/Australia”
- Storage instructions (e.g. “Store in a cool, dry place”)
If selling overseas, check for compliance with local food laws (e.g. FDA, AVA/SFA, or EU regulations).
🚚 5. Plan Your Launch and Distribution
Once your honey is packed and ready, think about how to distribute:
- Sell online (Shopify, Shopee, Lazada)
- Pitch to retailers (boutique grocers, wellness stores)
- Explore bulk and gift channels (hotels, corporate gifts, events)
- Use social media to build your community and share your brand story
Don’t forget to take high-quality product photos and start collecting customer feedback.
💡 Start with the Right Partner
At Hives Keeper, we help new honey brands get started with:
- Bulk or private-label raw honey
- Small-batch premium infused honey
- Packaging and export-ready fulfillment
- Trusted sourcing from ethical beekeepers in Asia-Pacific
Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, we’re here to support your journey.
📩 Ready to Launch Your Honey Brand?
Let’s create something sweet — together.
📍 Visit www.hiveskeeper.com or contact us to get started.
