Mānuka Orchard is New Zealand’s largest centralised honey storage facility, known for its innovative approach and commitment to providing seamless, trustworthy services to the apiculture industry. Based in the Bay of Plenty, the company, owned by Logan and Tania Bowyer, is a critical link from post-harvest honey production to local and international honey buyers. Their mission is to simplify the complex process of extracting, storing, testing, and selling honey to ensure their clients achieve greater profitability. To maintain their high standards of quality and service, Mānuka Orchard partnered with Hill Labs for honey testing.
Supporting the Apiculture Industry
Mānuka Orchard handles over 1,400 tonnes of honey annually, making precise and reliable honey testing essential for meeting the quality standards of both domestic and international buyers. Logan Bowyer, an experienced engineer and problem-solver, needed a partner who could provide rapid turnaround times, industry expertise, and collaborative problem-solving to meet the expectations of his clients—many of whom highly value local partnerships. With over 170 beekeepers relying on Mānuka Orchard to handle everything from extraction to quality assurance, the stakes are high to maintain trust and ensure the honey meets strict market standards.
"The honey industry has grown increasingly complex, particularly when it comes to meeting international compliance standards. Beekeepers just want to make honey, and they need support to measure, test, analyse, and report back," Logan explained.
For many of Logan’s customers, supporting New Zealand businesses is just as important as the quality of the service. The local expertise that Hill Labs provides has been a critical factor in the partnership’s success.
"Supporting local is important to us, and Hill Labs being locally owned and operated is a major reason why we continue to work with them. The bulk of who we deal with are North Island-based beekeepers, and many were keen to work with a local company."
The alignment of values between Mānuka Orchard and Hill Labs’ has strengthened the relationship and helped ensure the quality of service that Logan’s customers expect.
Tailored Testing for Diverse Needs
In addition to honey testing, Mānuka Orchard requires support for their kiwifruit orchards and water testing. Hill Labs' ability to offer local expertise across multiple facets of testing has been crucial in allowing Logan to provide comprehensive support to his customers.
The fast-testing turnaround times have also given Logan and his team the confidence they need to meet market demands, while Hill Labs’ willingness to adapt to Mānuka Orchards’ specific needs has created a strong working relationship.
Logan notes, "Hill Labs’ turnaround times have really helped reduce the stress of urgent testing. In times when everything becomes urgent, their ability to meet those needs overnight is a huge help. We don’t even talk about ‘urgent’ anymore because Hill Labs delivers overnight for many tests—it doesn't get better than that."
Logan also emphasised the collaborative approach Hill Labs brings to problem-solving. "Their willingness to answer the phone and provide direct access to experts has been great. We always get the answers we need. They’ve worked with us to identify issues and helped us find a way forward."
Beyond their expertise and collaboration, Logan has been consistently impressed by Hill Labs’ facilities. "The lab is purpose-built and well laid out, with a great flow path through it. I’m proud to take international clients to visit Hill Labs— it reflects the significant investment they've made in their testing infrastructure.”
Looking ahead
Mānuka Orchard is continually innovating, and Logan sees Hill Labs as an important partner in their evolution. "We’re constantly searching the world for new ways to test and market honey, and I think our collaboration with Hill Labs will keep evolving. They’ve shown a willingness to bring new test methods on board when needed, and I believe we’ll keep growing that partnership."
Logan’s confidence in Hill Labs’ local expertise and investment in their facilities means that Mānuka Orchard can focus on delivering high-quality honey that meets the stringent demands of local and international buyers. With Hill Labs, Mānuka Orchard knows they are working with a trusted partner who values collaboration and problem-solving as much as they do.
Pictured: Logan Bowyer - Mānuka Orchard
