Longtime Bee Supply Experts Ready to Pass the Torch

The owners of Bee Supplies Otago – profiled in two parts in July and August last year in these pages – have listed the Mosgiel-based business for sale. Eloise Martyn speaks to Murray Rixon to find out more about the diverse business and what’s behind his decision to offer it up.

By Eloise Martyn

Murray and Heidi Rixon, after 14 years of building up Bee Supplies Otago the couple want to pass the torch of business ownership as smoothly as possible.

After many years of building a vibrant and essential business for beekeepers across the lower South Island, husband-and-wife Murray and Heidi Rixon are preparing for a new season in life – one of rest and well-earned leisure.

Together since 2001, the couple has dedicated their energy, expertise, and passion to their shared working life, including the past 14 years building a unique and well-respected apiculture business in Otago. From queen bee breeding and hive equipment sales to a full-service honey extraction and processing facility, their operation has become a central hub for nearly 700 customers from Queenstown to Invercargill and beyond. But now, after two and a half decades of toil and countless successful projects, they’ve decided it’s time to finally take a breath – and hit the road.

“Heidi and I have been together for 24 years, and we’ve come to realise we’re both workaholics – we love building things, whether it’s a business or landscaping,” Rixon explains.

“It’s been great for our family and the business, but we’ve spent all those years jumping from one project to the next. Now, we’re ready to slow down a little and actually enjoy some time together, exploring New Zealand – two of the most beautiful islands in the world – before we get too old.”

Last year they bought a motorhome, electric bikes, and paddleboards – gearing up for a lifestyle of scenic road trips and relaxed adventure, “but it’s been hard to get time away from the business,” Rixon says. That’s prompted the decision to step away, which he says hasn’t been an easy decision.

“So many people rely on us, even just talking about selling brought us a lot of guilt and worry. But we also had to ask ourselves: if we don’t start planning for the future now, what happens to the beekeepers who depend on this place? We don’t want it to fall over. And if we don’t slow down soon, what happens in a year, or five?”

Rixon says that it’s far more than a business. “It’s part of the beekeeping community,” he adds.

Their business is, indeed, something unique. It’s a one-stop shop for beekeepers, offering everything from queen bees and nucleus colonies to hiveware, varroa treatments, suits, and gloves. Their honey extraction plant is licensed for domestic honey, operating well beyond the typical season and welcoming everyone from large commercial operators to small-scale hobbyists.

“We’re not in the export game. We’re passionate about being part of the local cycle – honey made here, processed here, and sold here,” Rixon says enthusiastically.

“It’s been our joy to help everyone, big or small, get their own honey back, it’s a real thrill.”

Operating nearly year-round, the business kicks off in spring with queen bee orders and continues through summer with retail sales and honey harvests. Extraction can begin as early as November and often runs through to July. Now, as they look to the future, the couple is ready to pass the torch to someone with fresh energy and a true passion for apiculture.

Officially on the market, the enterprise offers not only a thriving business but also the opportunity to purchase the 12-acre, solar-powered property it operates on, complete with a well-established home.

“It’s ideal for a couple or family seeking a lifestyle change, or an enthusiastic individual ready to relocate to Otago and take on a rewarding new venture.”

Rixon likens their honey extraction service to a bustling takeaway.

The honey extraction and processing room at Bee Supplies Otago forms only one part of what is a very diverse apicultural business.

“It’s like a Fish ‘n’ Chip shop on a Friday night—we’ve got people coming in, placing their orders: half creamed, half liquid, some packaged in biodegradable cardboard, plastic or glass. It’s a busy, thriving business.”

The business has proven resilient even during downturns in the industry, thanks to its diversity and customer loyalty. The couple also host school groups and cruise ship tours on-site, adding educational and tourism value to the operation. These efforts, they say, could easily be expanded upon by the next owners.

Understanding the uniqueness of their operation, the couple is committed to offering guidance during the handover period. While their ideal scenario is a complete sale – business, land, and all –they're open to separating the retail and extraction components if needed. But their hope remains to pass it on whole.

“We’d love to find someone who genuinely cares about the industry and the beekeeping community. We believe there’s someone out there ready for a change who’ll look at this and say, ‘Hey, this could be ideal,’ and with our support, continue serving beekeepers across the lower South Island,” Rixon says, adding “and we’ll be here to guide the transition – still nearby, enjoying this wonderful part of the country, just from a slightly slower pace.”

You can find separate listings for both Bee Supplies Otago and the 12-acre property and home on trademe.co.nz