True luxury in a product is not just defined by its price tag, but by its authenticity, purity and unwavering integrity of its journey from its raw state to your kitchen.
For Primal by Nature, that luxury is guaranteed by the exacting standards of its New Zealand-based parent company, Midlands Apiaries. As one of New Zealand’s premier honey suppliers, the name Midlands is synonymous with stability, scale and a deviation to quality control that sets the global benchmark.
Primal by Nature’s velvety-smooth, potent Mānuka honey is the final result of this commitment - a testament to a meticulous, multi-layered quality assurance programme that operates across every single step of production.
This is the story of how world-class quality control transforms a rare New Zealand nectar into the pinnacle of Mānuka honey luxury.
The Golden Standard Begins at the Source
At the foundation of Primal by Nature’s reliability is Midlands’ deep, generational connection to the land. With a history that spans nearly a century, Midlands is a titan in the New Zealand honey industry, but its strength lies not just in its size, but its ability to control the source.
Mānuka honey’s unique properties originate with the Mānuka tree, native only to New Zealand. To harvest the highest-grade honey, hives must be strategically placed in the most remote, pristine and unpolluted wilderness areas - a task Midlands undertakes with a high degree of expertise.
By operating an extensive network of apiaries, backed by its own experienced beekeepers, Midlands ensures that every drop of nectar collected is genuine, monofloral Mānuka. In some cases, the hives are so secluded that they’re only accessible by helicopter, which ensures the bees are foraging in environments that are complete free from external contamination.
This complete ownership of the supply chain, from bee welfare and hive placement to harvesting, is the first and most critical step in guaranteeing the honey’s supreme quality. This dedication to ethical and responsible beekeeping is part of a non-invasive approach that stewards the work of the honey bees, ensuring their health and wellbeing while securing the raw material.
Midlands manages the supply from the very moment the bee lands on the flower, which delivers a consistent, year-round supply of premium-grade, raw material to Primal by Nature, which builds on an unparalleled foundation of reliability.
Proof of Purity & Certification
For a luxury product to be truly trustworthy, its purity must be independently verified.
Midlands Apiaries understands that every jar of Primal by Nature Mānuka honey must hold up to the most intense scrutiny, which is why they adhere to the strictest global standards, often exceeding legal requirements.
The honey is fully compliant with the MPI (Ministry of Primary Industries) Science Definition, the legal benchmark set by the New Zealand government to authenticate Mānuka honey.
Furthermore, as a licensed member of the UMF Honey Association, Midlands guarantees the Mānuka’s potency, freshness and authenticity through rigorous testing for the key chemical markers - which include MGO, DHA and Leptosperin.
The company also holds the SQF (Safe Quality Food) Level 3 certification. This globally recognised food safety and quality standard demonstrates that the entire facility and all its programmes operate at an elite level, assuring customers that food safety controls are robustly enforced.
These certifications are independent evidence of Midlands’ unwavering commitment to the consumer and the quality of the honey supplied by Primal by Nature.
In-House Expertise Delivers the Science of Perfection
Reliability isn’t found in simply meeting external standards, it’s also found in the consistent internal processes and technological advancements that uphold the standards daily.
Midlands Apiaries has cemented its trusted status through heavy investment in people, technology and a world-class production facility, which is among the newest high-scale Mānuka honey manufacturing sites in New Zealand.
It begins with impeccable quality assurance - at Midlands, quality isn’t about achieving a pass. It’s about achieving perfection. The company views government standards, testing and regulation as the bare minimum; it’s committed to raising the benchmark for the entire industry.
This commitment is physically manifested in a specialised quality assurance team which oversees every step in production - from the moment the honey arrives until the finished jar is sealed.
The rigorous oversight results in some of the highest compliance rates in the global food industry. For example, their SQF Level 3 certification, which measures food safety and quality management, has consistently been awarded an audit rating of up to 99% compliance.
This elite score places Midlands in the top percentile globally, assuring customers that fundamental food safety controls are robustly enforced.
The QA team’s work involves daily, even hourly checks that are strategically placed to mitigate potential risk and ensure that anything that could go wrong is immediately captured. This vigilant, proactive approach to compliance means customers receive a safe and reliable product which surpasses all stringent requirements, recognised by varying international markets.
The dedication to doing it right, not just getting a pass, is what protects the reputation of the Primal by Nature brand and ensures consistency in every single jar.
Then, there’s the centrepiece of the Midlands brand - its dedicated, state-of-the-art laboratory. Before any raw honey is blended or packed, it undergoes comprehensive testing by a team of expert lab technicians.
This is where the purity of the Mānuka honey is definitively established. Every single batch is tested for:
-
Monoflorality - Using DNA and chemical markers like Leptosperin, the honey is tested to ensure it’s genuinely Mānuka honey and meets, or exceeds the MPI science definition
-
Potency Grading - Precisely measuring the levels of MGO and DHA to accurately assign the UMF and MGO ratings displayed on every Primal by Nature jar
-
Absence of Residue - Testing to ensure the final product is free from contaminants like antibiotics and pesticides, a non-negotiable step in guaranteeing purity
This immediate, in-house testing capability allows for rapid verification and quality assurance, ensuring that any deviation is caught before the product moves forward.
To provide ultimate integrity, Midlands then sends samples of every batch to IANZ-accredited, third-party labs for independent verification. This rigorous dual-testing protocol is the ultimate proof of transparency and quality.
Finally, there’s Midlands’ investment in innovation that extends far beyond the lab. The production facility is meticulously designed to handle high volumes while preserving the delicate, raw nature of the honey.
A key example of this advanced control is the use of automated technology on the packing line. An industrial visual inspection system, which features five high-resolution cameras, scans every single glass jar of Primal by Nature honey that comes down the conveyor.
This technology is programmed to verify the following with flawless accuracy:
-
Fill level and weight, ensuring the product count is precise
-
Label alignment, which checks that the luxury labelling is perfectly placed
-
Jar integrity, which scans for any defects in the glass or lid
This technology removes the potential for human error in tedious quality checks, acting as an additional, unwavering guardrail. It’s a level of automation doesn’t replace human skill, it empowers it.
The final luxury texture of Primal by Nature honey is also a testament to the Midlands team. The raw Mānuka, once tested and approved, is gently processed using proprietary methods that preserve its raw, unpasteurised state while achieving that signature, silky-smooth consistency.
This careful, cold-churning process is an artisan craft that’s only made possible by the support of the world-class, hygienic facility.
A Blend of Quality and Care: Primal by Nature
The exceptional quality control of Midlands Apiaries culminates in the finished product you receive from Primal by Nature.
Every jar represents a raw, authentic and luxurious experience, defined by key commitments. The luxury Mānuka honey is always enshrined within a vessel of shimmering glass, a non-porous and recyclable material. This choice protects the honey’s taste and quality, while demonstrating the honey as an ethical product choice.
Through taking advantage of century-long heritage, the complete supply chain control, the world-leading certifications and the advanced technology of Midlands Apiaries, Primal by Nature delivers a promise of uncompromising quality, full traceability and genuine luxury.
When you choose Primal by Nature, you’re securing a brand where the highest standards of quality control are the absolute, unwavering law. Shop our range today to discover a product selection that defines true luxury.
