This week Waitrose will launch a new brand of honey sweetened mineral water, Just Bee, created by friends Joe Harper and Andy Sugden.
The new spring water is infused with a single drop of honey as well as fruits, to add natural sweetness and flavour to the water. The sugar content will be less than 4g per 100ml and each 330ml drink will contain under 50 calories.
The entrepreneurial duo were inspired to create the new spring water brand, out of a love for bees and honey, and 10% of Just Bee profits will go to British bee charities.
The pair from Manchester secured a Government Innovation Voucher in 2015 to fund the enterprise. Honey runs in Harper's family; his father is a bee-keeper and his grandfather before that.
The new drinks will come in three flavours: Apple & Ginger; Blueberry and Lemon & Green Tea, all with a hint of honey.
Joe Harper from Just Bee says, "One of the great things about honey is that it's sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less and so keep the sugar and calorie content down.”
“It is really important for us to do our bit to help Save the Bees” Joe adds, “bees are going through a tough time at the moment and they are extremely important, not just for honey, but for all of us. Did you know we rely on bees and other pollinators for 1 in every 3 mouthfuls of food we eat?! ”
Just Bee, as well as donating 10% of profits to Friends of the Honey Bee charity, will also offer free packets of Bee-friendly Wildflower Seeds, which can be ordered through their website.
The Just Bee drinks are priced at £1.49 and are available in 140 Waitrose stores across the UK.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aoife Lawless. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
