Logan power couple’s honey hits the shelves

Twenty-one million honey bees are now trucked across the country by an ex-pro squash player and a marketing manager after one little beehive in their backyard led to their own sweet honey empire, now featured in a mega supermarket.

A southeast Queensland couple has become the newest Australian honey powerhouse, with a major supermarket now stocking their range on their shelves.

In between full-time work, sporting goals, flipping houses and raising three children, Jimboomba couple Carl and Karin Hampson managed to grow their honey empire, all from one humble hive kept in their own backyard.

Mr Hampson was a professional squash player, and Mrs Hampson was a marketing manager, until thirteen years ago when a random decision started what would become a whole new career.

“I came home one day and he (Carl) said ‘I want a beehive’,” Ms Hampson said.

“I was shocked, I said ‘hell no’.

“I didn’t even like honey at that point.”

Hampson Honey is now sold at Woolworths across Queensland.

Rather quickly, that single beehive multiplied again and again as what was meant to be a hobby cascaded into a hefty business.

The couple learnt the art of beekeeping from a friend who walked them through the processes involved, while Ms Hampson worked on a marketing plan and Mr Hampson spent time farming the bees.

The perfect plan paid off when, after coming up with a plan to produce honey through farms in Victoria and far north Queensland, mega supermarket chain Woolworths agreed to stock their produce.

“We’ve never thought that we’d be here, it’s a total fluke,” Ms Hampson said.

“We pack up to 10,000 units a day.

“There’s nothing taken, nothing added. Straight from the hive to the bottle,” Mr Hampson said.

100% Australian Hampson Honey Raw Honey.

“This is what real honey is meant to taste like,” Ms Hampson said.

“It's not heated, it’s good for you.

“It’s the best honey you can get, we’re really proud of it.”

Carl Hampson, part owner of Hampson Honey, putting in the work.

In an incredible feat, Mr Hampson moves the bee colonies from state to state depending on what was in flower.

“You can only move them at night, you have to net them as well otherwise they get free,” Ms Hampson said.

Hampson Honey is partnered with Tone’s trucking, and this August they managed to move 21 million honey bees from Yelarbon in Queensland to Victoria for almond season, but it is no easy task.

“It’s a pretty full on process,” Ms Hampson said.

They use a bee smoker to calm the bees before moving them, keeping them calm, especially during wet weather conditions.

“They get cranky,” Tony Fulton from Tone’s trucking said.

The 1500km trek is an important process, to ensure the best result for bees colonisation before honey harvesting begins.

Hampson Honey moving bee colonies interstate.

The Hampson’s hope to one day add Coles and Aldi to their customer list.

“We want to go national,” Ms Hampson said.

Carl and Karin Hampson and their three children. Picture: Supplied