Established in 1940, Alberta Honey Producers Co-operative (AHPC) is owned by over 100 beekeepers across Alberta, western Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. With a facility in Spruce Grove, Alberta, this co-op processes and packages honey from member beekeepers, marketing and selling the honey products to domestic and international markets to private label, food service and industrial customers, as well as under the Bee Maid brand – owned in conjunction with Manitoba Cooperative Honey Producers. Processing about 30 percent of Canada’s honey, Bee Maid sells only 100% Canadian honey, known for its quality, light colour and mild sweetness.
AHPC plays a significant role in the agriculture ecosystem, adding value to honey while enabling its members to focus solely on beekeeping. Additionally, AHPC supports healthy bee populations, providing cross-pollination benefits and enhancing crop quality and yield for western Canadian farmers.
With sales increasing by over 37 percent over the past five years, AHPC recognized the need to expand and modernize their production facility to meet the increasing demand and future growth objectives. The building had its last renovations and equipment updates about 20 years ago.
PrairiesCan first supported AHPC in 2022 through the Jobs and Growth Fund to help expand their operations through a $1,822,945 repayable loan. The project included a 50,000 square foot expansion to the plant, increasing the facility’s working space by 60%. As part of this expansion, new equipment was added to increase output and product quality. The project also allowed the co-operative to bring in automation technology that has improved productivity and yielded savings in operational costs. This investment will support AHPC’s competitiveness into the future, allowing the cooperative to grow.
“We are really appreciative of the financial support that the PrairiesCan fund provides an SME like the Alberta Honey Producers Co-operative,” said COO Henry Klassen, “Our beekeeper members are heavily invested in this project, and it is encouraging to see when a program like PrairiesCan comes alongside and works together with our membership to make this happen.”
With their newly expanded facility, upgraded equipment, and adoption of modern technology, AHPC hopes to see further growth in their export market and anticipates continued job growth both internally and within their beekeeper network.
