Manuka Health was honoured to be one of just seven New Zealand companies selected to meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at yesterday’s Future of Food Forum, in Auckland.
At the Forum, organised by the Dutch embassy, Manuka Health’s booth was the first to be visited by King Willem, where he met the company’s Head of R&D Amanda Suddes. With European countries embracing natural products like Manuka honey, the Netherlands is an important market for Manuka Health.
Suddes discovered the King is a keen amateur beekeeper himself, keeping hives to benefit local crop pollination. She spoke to him about the unique science of Manuka honey.
“We say Manuka Health is ‘given by nature and proven by science’. Our investment in the science behind Manuka honey and bee products is crucial to knowing more about these amazingly powerful superfoods. King Willem-Alexander was particularly interested in the skin- and wound-care properties of our products. I talked to him about our research exploring ways to leverage Manuka honey’s bioactive properties,” said Mandy.
Kate Kember, Manuka Health’s GM of Marketing, says the Royal opportunity caps off a great year for the company. The Netherlands was an important growth market for the organisation, growing five-fold in the last three years, and growth in Europe doubling since 2014.
“Manuka Health is in its 10th year, and today we continue to evolve and lead the way. For us, 2016 has signalled that Manuka Health is in a rapid growth phase with unique science, beekeeper to jar traceability, an inspired team and state of the art facilities underpinning our growth. A major China distribution partnership was signed with Chao Pi International in August, followed by a visit from well-known Taiwanese actress and supermum Alyssa Chia last month and now the King and Queen of the Netherlands are enjoying our honey,” said Kate.
Manuka Health exports to 45 countries. Founded in 2006, it was purchased by Pacific Equity Partners in December 2015.
