They say it takes a village to raise and maintain a successful local beekeeping business and this has proven to be true for Foothills Honey. Quickly becoming a North Canterbury staple with its unique range of handcrafted, pure New Zealand honeys, Foothills is traceable from plant to plate.
Local and family-owned by the Malcolm siblings, James and Laura, Foothills Honey is centered on culture, which is evident in their group of company stakeholders who range from family, neighbours, friends, staff and most of the local community of the Canterbury foothills.
Just ask the Malcolms what makes Foothills Honey unique and they’ll spin you a yarn about the culture and value that extends to honouring the age-old craft of beekeeping in a contemporary and often saturated market. Those in the know understand that beekeeping is not an easy job – it requires patience and hard work to care for the honeybees. Regardless of the challenges, the Foothills team is dedicated to operating in the right way, even if it takes that much longer.And what about the products? Let’s start with the Mānuka 265+ honey, which is sharp in flavour and pure as the mountainscape from which it was harvested. There’s also the Mānuka and native botanicals honey which is described as the flavour of Aotearoa and packed with native botanicals (as the name suggests) from kānuka, tī kōuka, harakeke, black beech, whauwhaupaku and kōwhai to name a few. The team is serious about their roles as bee-guardians and all equipment used in the hives is sustainable and biodegradable. Their new product range is sold in glass jars instead of plastic and they continually educate their community on safe ways to spray and to plant bee-friendly gardens.
After years of exporting their honey, the Malcolms have achieved their long-time dream of having their very own honey on tables right here at home in New Zealand.
Q&A with Laura from Foothills Honey
Why North Canterbury? It’s the lifestyle, with the mountains, rivers and the ocean so close yet not far from the big smoke fix of Christchurch, but also just far enough away. Loburn is an awesome community to be part of
What’s your favourite thing to do in North Canterbury? North Canterbury is so central to most of our favourite activities, living under the North Canterbury Foothills and between the forks of the Okuku and Ashley Rivers, if we aren’t working that’s where you will find us, jet boating, horse riding or having a few beers with our mates somewhere in the village.
Name your top three North Canterbury brands (other than your own!): My favourite North Canterbury Brands are Energy Jet, Fools of Desire and Eagle Brewing – Activities, food and alcohol. There are plenty of North Canterbury brands that I’m proud of, even some awesome beekeeping companies and brands. It’s not about who you’re supporting just so long as they are local and stand for something you believe in, that’s what makes North Canterbury awesome!
Featured Products
Foothills Honey – Black Beech
