It was a beekeeping course that sparked Nicki Peek’s passion for discovering Mānuka honey’s unique properties, sending her on a five-year search for the best solution she could find to support optimal health and wellness.
“The inspiration came from the challenge of taking two traditional yet poorly understood products – Mānuka honey and liposomal vitamins – and combining them,” says Nicki.
“We worked with award-winning scientists from Oxford, Stanford, Harvard and Caltech to produce a true world-first; Lypearl® Bioscience with patented ‘Natural Molecular Dispersion®’ of liposomal nutrients.”
It mimics how the body transports nutrients and optimises delivery by wrapping tiny cell-like shells of plant extract around millions of vitamin molecules, protecting their nutrient payload from the potentially destructive forces of the digestive system.
“This amazing technology has been blended into our already powerful and potent Mānuka honey to create Honuka. It is literally honey with benefits.”
Even better, Honuka vitamin- infused honey is delivered from a single-serve, bend-snap-and- squeeze sachet. The golden goodness tastes great and is enjoyed in seconds, making it easy to fit into a busy lifestyle.
Honuka’s vitamin-infused honey helps support skin, muscle and bone and your immune system, while the liposomal delivery makes vitamins easier to absorb.
Nicki is passionate about bees and the important role they play in our ecosystem, learning to care for them and support their natural habitat. Growing up on a wildlife sanctuary in Africa, Peek always knew she was committed to conservation.
In New Zealand she learned about the plight of bees, and spent winters travelling to remote areas of Mānuka bushland, checking hives to make sure the queen and her bees were healthy.
“I found beekeeping to be a way to reconnect with nature,” says Nicki, who remains dedicated to protecting her wonderful pollinating friends, their environment and those involved in creating Honuka.
“We source from remote, wild-growing Mānuka, prioritising local communities and sustainability,” she says. The honey is traceable and tested to ensure it meets strict standards.
“Honuka, for me, is all about passion and the opportunity to improve the quality and length of life for as many people and bees as possible.”
Q&A with Honuka’s founder Nicki Peek
We caught up with Nicki to learn more about her journey with Honuka.
What inspired your connection to the Mānuka plant and its honey?
My passion for nature comes from my father, a conservationist and wildlife photographer. When I moved from Africa to New Zealand, I found beekeeping to be a way to reconnect with nature. The Mānuka plant and its honey became symbols of my new home.
What makes Mānuka special from a health perspective?
It starts with the untouched backcountry environment where Mānuka grows. The honey from wild Mānuka nectar is recognised as containing hundreds of beneficial compounds. Māori recognised the properties of the Mānuka plant long before modern science studied its honey.
How do you source your honey, and what is your philosophy?
We source from remote, wild-growing Mānuka, prioritising local communities and sustainability. This includes paying fair prices and supporting beekeepers through tough times.
What inspired you to combine Mānuka honey with liposomal Vitamin C and D?
Combining Mānuka honey and liposomal vitamins solves two key problems: honey’s lack of appeal to younger consumers and the poor taste of many liposomal vitamins.
The market is saturated with conventional honey products that struggle to resonate with younger, health-conscious consumers. Meanwhile, many powdered supplements are inconvenient, and imported liposomal products often have an unpleasant taste. By using honey as a natural preservative and delicious flavour, we created a solution that delivers the benefits of liposomal-infused Mānuka honey in an innovative, customer-led product.
Honuka isn’t just another honey or supplement; it’s a modern wellness brand designed to meet the evolving expectations of today’s wellness seekers.
Why hasn’t the combination of honey and liposomal technology been explored before?
It is technically very difficult to produce cost-effectively and at scale, and we hold the patent rights. Just as importantly, positioning and branding are key. Legacy honey brands are production-led, focused on what they can make and how to use their existing distribution channels.
Honuka, on the other hand, is customer-led, informed by data and a deep understanding of health-conscious consumers. We prioritise what customers want and how to reach them in a meaningful way – offering a science-driven and customer-informed experience that resonates with today’s wellness seekers.
What inspired Honuka’s packaging design?
It all started with my father’s flower photography. Honuka’s design is influenced by how bees perceive the UV patterns on flowers, tailored for younger, modern consumers. We aim for a brand that reflects authenticity, science, and innovation, resonating with Gen Z and Millennials.
Any tips for using your products?
We encourage experimenting with different ways to incorporate our products into daily life. Customers share fresh ideas for family, sports, cooking, and travel, showing that authenticity and innovation resonate in the modern wellness community.
* Honuka’s Liposomal 1000 Vitamin & Mānuka Honey Snaps are available from honuka.com and Chemist Warehouse.
Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. Always read the label and use as directed.
TAPS BG4431
MiNDFOOD promotion
