Speakers:
Maureen Conquer
Honey Marketing…How to Add Value to your Harvest
New Zealander Maureen Conquer has a background in industrial design, hospitality, the wine industry and trained as a chef before entering the honey industry in the 1990’s. Today she is an internationally recognized world authority on honey and honey marketing.
Her work as the Apimondia representative for Oceania and a member of the international Adulteration of Honey Working Group has presented Maureen with many opportunities to globally assess and judge both honey, mead and other honey food and beverages.
Maureen is an entrepreneur and has proven ability to create and evolve brand images, adding significant growth to business, public perception and economic value. Honey marketing, product and brand development are her specialty.
Maureen now works as an independent consultant to the honey industry taking honey from bee food and the commodity market to a premium high value and much sought-after product.
John Rawcliffe
Honey Marketing…Adding Value to Mono Floral Honeys
John Rawcliffe is the Administrator of the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) Honey Association (UMFHA) which oversees all use of the UMF® quality mark and provides support to licensees and consumers via a range of programmes and initiatives.
In his role, John manages the UMFHA’s operational budget which has increased tenfold during his tenure. He has also successfully doubled the organisation’s membership to the point where it now represents over 75 per cent of all export sales of bottled Manuka Honey.
A highly experienced international business strategist, he has effectively positioned the Association and its UMF® quality mark as a respected, recognisable, and relevant brand within the various markets where Manuka Honey is sold. A key driver of success has been John’s commitment to international business development, and investment in and application of leading-edge science.
Aside from his expertise in the Manuka Honey industry, he has over 20 years’ experience in managing manufacturing operations in the nutraceutical industry.