The UK’s largest independent honey brand, Hilltop has announced the launch of a traceability website for shoppers to identify the home origin of their honey purchases.
The launch comes as Hilltop looks to lead the way in transparency and consumer trust as concerns around ‘fake’ honey blends persist.
British bees alone cannot keep up with the UK’s demand for honey so 86% of the honey we consume on our shelves is imported. Because of this, Hilltop will only partner with approved countries and beekeepers that adhere to strict UK standards and regulations.
From New Zealand to Hungary, Argentina, China and beyond, Hilltop sources a variety of delicious honeys which go through a rigorous testing process both at the country of origin then again at its Newtown factory in Wales.
To trace their honey, shoppers can either scan the QR code on their bottle or jar or manually enter the trace code at www.trace.lovehilltop.com. The county and region will then be displayed, along with an overview of the honey profile and insight to beekeeping traditions. For example, honey from Argentina has bold notes of eucalyptus and a dark, rich colour, producing 70,000 – 80,000 tonnes per year.
Hilltop believes honey should remain completely pure, with nothing added, no pollen removed, and no treatments that alter its acidity or damage its natural enzymes. For Manuka honey specifically, its authenticity is verified using DNA testing as well as confirming MGO levels, so shoppers can trust they are getting the genuine quality and unique benefits its known for.
Scott Davies, founder of Hilltop, says: “We’re incredibly proud to be the first British honey brand to offer scan from shelf traceability in mainstream retail. Our mission is to champion full transparency with our customers, while sourcing the best honey for the UK shopper.
“I’m obsessed with honey and visit every producer around the world that we work with, to ensure our products are full of flavour and taste delicious. We hope to inspire others within the category to do the same by raising standards and driving trust for the honey shopper.”
