Did you know that only a few specialist beekeeping shops in Germany carry exclusive products of their own in their range? And that hardly any beekeeping supplier develops products itself, to pick up the ideas and wishes of beekeepers first-hand?
Hive & Harvest is the specialist beekeeping shop in Germany that develops its products straight out of practical beekeeping. For almost 60 years we have believed that it is the ideas from everyday beekeeping that bring our range, and especially our own developments, to life.
With more than 80 products we developed ourselves, we have been helping our customers practise the wonderful craft of keeping bees since 1966. Since the early days we have also turned the treasures of the colony into high-quality cosmetics, and we offer a wide range of supplies for making beeswax candles. With more than 1,400 items in total, you will find the right equipment for every beekeeping project, above all our own products.
How it started
1966: the workshop
Our story goes back to 1966, when beekeeper Heinrich Brandt championed the Segeberg polystyrene hive invented by Nikolai Petersen. This best-selling polystyrene hive still helps beekeepers today to house their colonies with far better insulation than comparable wooden hives.
When more warmth stays in the colony in winter, the bees in their winter cluster need to heat less than in a wooden hive. In summer the better insulation also keeps outside heat from getting into the hive. So fewer water foragers are needed for cooling in a Segeberg hive, and more bees are free for honey production.
Heinrich Brandt also improved the honey harvest and brought the plastic comb (the “Nordic comb”) to market. In wooden frames, centrifugal force can break the foundation during extraction. The plastic comb allowed many beekeepers to harvest honey without broken combs.
1990: the bee shop
In 1990, when Heinrich Brandt handed his shop to his son, three beekeeping pioneers founded a small business of their own out of their apiary. They started with bee products such as ointments, food supplements and their own honey, and soon added beekeeping equipment too.
2003: Hive & Harvest
In 2003 the two leading specialist shops merged under the name Hive & Harvest and moved to our current home in Ellerau. In 2020 the founders handed the management to a new owner, who stayed side by side with them for a full year before taking over completely, together with our long-serving team.
The values that have worked for decades, and our closeness to practical beekeeping, have stayed the same. We keep turning ideas from the beekeeping community into products and giving our customers excellent service.
Good developments from beekeepers, at honest prices
It is not only our range that convinces beekeepers, it is also our pricing. Because we make many products exclusively for our customers, we control their quality, and that control over pricing benefits our customers too.
- Instead of advertising supposed discounts from time to time, we always pass on the best honest price to you.
- When external manufacturers or our production partners raise prices, we keep our prices stable for as long as we possibly can.
- Whenever you start your project, you get quality products at the best possible price, without waiting for a sale.
Hive & Harvest today
Our team is taking mail order for beekeepers to a new, modern level while keeping the values our customers love. Guided by what beekeepers need and like, we develop new exclusive products and keep improving how we work, from a fresh look and a redesigned catalogue to this new online shop.
In short
We are Hive & Harvest, the specialist shop for beekeepers. We develop ideas straight from practical beekeeping and have been helping people practise the wonderful craft of beekeeping since 1966. We also supply other specialist shops with our high-quality beekeeping products.
Don’t know our products yet? Browse our shop, visit us in person, or order our catalogue free of charge.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you in our shop north of Hamburg: first exit on the A7, in Ellerau.
We look forward to you and your beekeeping projects.
Your Hive & Harvest team