About Us
IT BEGINS WITH A ROAD TRIP
The summer before my Senior year of High School I took a road trip with my family to Texas to see my sister. I always enjoyed our family road trips because it meant lots of time to talk. On the way home we stopped for the night in Durango, Colorado. It was in the hotel lobby that we noticed a flyer advertising "Honeyville". It caught our eye because we live in Honeyville, Utah. Of course we had to check it out.
It turns out Honeyville was a honey company in Durango. We had to stop in! We discovered the coolest honey store we'd ever seen. Honeyville Honey had amazing flavored whipped honey, jams and jellies, syrups and sauces made with honey. I bought a jar of their bumbleberry honey and dipped almonds in them all the way home. During the course of that 12 hour stretch I could not stop talking about the honey and the opportunity to share it with our friends in Utah. About 10 hours into the trip mom and dad were convinced of the possibilities. We decided to start ordering their honey wholesale and retailing it at our local fairs and festivals.
A LITTLE BREAK
They were a hit! But they were more of a gateway than an sustainable business. The costs of fuel kept rising and shipping in the honey from Southern Colorado was becoming expensive. Lucky for us we were finding a local demand for locally produced raw honey. And as it turns out my cousin was a beekeeper! We started selling his honey. We started growing so quickly that we had to source more honey. Those first couple of years we developed friendships with many fun, local beekeepers.
In 2007, I took a two year break from the business and my parents stepped in to keep it alive while I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We didn't grow during those two years but it was still there when I got back. I am immensly grateful to my parents for all the support they have given in this process.
In 2009, recently returned and re-energized I stepped back into control and began implementing ideas I had two years to casually think about. I couldn't believe the progress we were making. Armed with new technology, fresh ideas, and loyal customers we doubled in size the year I returned.
GRATITUDE
In the spring of 2010 we started keeping bees for the first time. And because of the connections I had with other beekeepers, I had several strong mentors to help me get started. So I guess you can say we are a honey company that started as a marketing company looking to fill a need. Now we are both. And we specialize in only the best natural pure raw honey available.
In 2012 we were named the "2011 Home Based Business of the Year" by the Brigham City Area Chamber of Commerce. Also in 2012 we were recognized by City Weekly Magazine as "Best of Utah."
We enjoy our job and the people we come into contact with. We appreciate all of the patience and support our customers and friends have been as we've grown and matured as a company. And we are so grateful to be living in the United States, a land of opportunity where even a 17 year old boy can start and grow a business.
And most of all I am thankful for my parents. Without them none of this would be possible. They taught me to think critically and to ask questions. They taught me the value of hard work and determination. And they did it by their example.
May I always live up to their expectations and yours.
Sincerely,
Kyle Kanno
The Honey Jar