Key Takeaways
- Mann Lake Ltd., the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of beekeeping supplies, has acquired Apis Biologix, the company behind the Bio-Activator and BIO-Metabolic-Fuel nutritional supplements widely known among beekeepers as “Canadian Rocket Fuel.”
- Apis Biologix's flagship products are the first formulations to replicate the phytochemical, amino acid, vitamin, phytohormone, and trace mineral profiles found naturally in floral nectar and pollen, the nutritional inputs that healthy bees consume in the wild.
- Mann Lake had previously distributed Apis Biologix products for several years and incorporated Bio-Activator into its Ultra Bee Rocket Fuel Patties, one of its flagship pollen substitute feeds; the acquisition brings the underlying science fully in-house.
- The combined organisation will continue producing existing Bio-Activator and BIO-Metabolic-Fuel product lines without interruption, while accelerating a pipeline of new nutritional formulations in development, with expanded availability through Mann Lake's North American distribution network.
- The acquisition is designed to deepen R&D investment in bee nutrition science and accelerate the development of next-generation feeding solutions for both hobbyist and commercial beekeepers facing increasingly challenging seasonal conditions.
Mann Lake Ltd., the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of beekeeping supplies, has announced the acquisition of Apis Biologix, the company behind the Bio-Activator and BIO-Metabolic-Fuel nutritional supplements. The acquisition brings Apis Biologix's proprietary bee nutrition science fully under the Mann Lake umbrella, deepening an existing commercial relationship and expanding the combined organisation's research and development pipeline for honey bee health products.
Mann Lake and Apis Biologix: The Existing Relationship
Mann Lake had distributed Apis Biologix products for several years prior to the acquisition and had incorporated Bio-Activator into its Ultra Bee Rocket Fuel Patties, one of its flagship pollen substitute feeds. Apis Biologix's flagship products are the first formulations designed to replicate the phytochemical, amino acid, vitamin, phytohormone, and trace mineral profiles found naturally in floral nectar and pollen — the nutritional inputs that healthy bee colonies consume in the wild. Bringing the business in-house is intended to deepen that scientific integration and accelerate the development of new nutritional tools.
“Bee nutrition is one of the most important — and most underestimated — levers in colony health. Apis Biologix has done genuinely pioneering work in translating what bees actually need from nature into supplements beekeepers can use in the field. Bringing that science fully into Mann Lake means we can invest in it more deeply, scale it more broadly, and continue developing products that help colonies thrive through the increasingly difficult conditions beekeepers face season to season,” said Rob Wright, CEO of Mann Lake Ltd.
Apis Biologix Founder on Joining Mann Lake
Andrew Munn, Founder of Apis Biologix, described the acquisition as the logical next step for the research the company has been building, citing Mann Lake's manufacturing capability, distribution reach, and commitment to beekeeper success as the platform his research needed to scale effectively.
“Joining Mann Lake is the logical next step for the work we've been building. Mann Lake's manufacturing capability, distribution reach, and commitment to beekeeper success give our research a platform it could never have on its own. Together we can accelerate the pace at which new nutritional tools reach the hives that need them — and continue pushing the science of what's possible in honey bee health,” said Andrew Munn, Founder of Apis Biologix.
Product Continuity and Distribution Expansion
Mann Lake confirmed that the existing Bio-Activator and BIO-Metabolic-Fuel product lines will continue without interruption, with the same formulations and quality standards currently relied upon by beekeepers. The acquisition will expand availability of these products through Mann Lake's North American distribution network, while the combined organisation accelerates a pipeline of new nutritional formulations currently in development.
