Bee Free Honee
InventorKatie Sanchez
Inception2012[1]
Websitebeefreehonee.com

Bee Free Honee was an apple-based vegan alternative to honey that achieved recognition and funding from Shark Tank.[2] Produced from apples, lemon juice, and cane sugar, it could be used as a replacement for honey in recipes.[3] The product could be consumed by young children[4] and by people with an allergy to honey.[5] In 2019, the company went out of business.[6]

History

The product was accidentally developed in 1999 by Katie Sanchez while she was making apple jelly.[7] The company was established in 2012,[1] with a production facility in River Falls, Wisconsin.[8] After being featured on Shark Tank in February 2016,[2] sales quadrupled and the company moved production from Wisconsin to Texas.[1]

Company co-owner Melissa Elms claimed that by not using bees for production, the product was beneficial to honeybee populations, which she said were often exposed to unsuitable environments in commercial production.[9]

Products

The main ingredients in Bee Free Honee were apple juice, cane sugar, and lemon juice.[4] Flavored variations included ancho chile, mint, and slippery elm.[4] The products were most often sold in stores that specialize in organic/natural foods, including H-E-B, Sprouts Farmers Market, Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers, Wegmans, and Whole Foods Market.[1][9]

Bee Free Honee was featured at the Specialty Food Association's Summer Fancy Food Show in 2016[10] and Winter Fancy Food Show in January 2017.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jacqueline Dowland (September 28, 2016). "Local entrepreneur showcasing her product, Bee Free Honee, on CNBC's 'Shark Tank tonight". Killeen Daily Herald. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Shark Tank: Episode 17 – Watch Season 7 Episode 17". ABC. February 12, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017. An entrepreneur from Philadelphia hopes the Sharks don't take a bite out of him while pitching a smart plate containing food-recognition technology that could solve all your dieting problems; two energetic women from Minneapolis, MN and Waco, TX have created a sweetener that tastes just like honey, but not made by bees.
  3. ↑ Katie Lally (September 18, 2016). "Bee Free Honee Update- What Happened After Shark Tank". Gazette Review. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Jessica Gay (May 4, 2016). "Interview: Bee Free Honee's environmentally friendly 'honey'". foodbev.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Mallory Carra (February 12, 2016). "Where To Get Bee Free Honee, The 'Shark Tank' Treat With No Sting". Bustle. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ Emily (2019-09-25). "A Leader in Calling for Pollinator Rights | Bee Free Honee". exploreveg.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  7. ↑ "About us – Bee Free Honee". beefreehonee.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-15. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ Beth Dooley (October 13, 2016). "Plymouth woman enjoys sweet success with faux honey after 'Shark Tank'". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Hannah Sentenac (February 8, 2017). "Honey Isn't Vegan, but These Alternatives Are Better for Bees". Paste. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  10. ↑ Monica Watrous (July 5, 2016). "Honey heats up at Summer Fancy Food". Food Business News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Spicy, Sweet, Creamy, Crispy All in One: Taste Innovations at Specialty Food Association's 2017 Winter Fancy Food Show". PR Newswire. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
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