Antony Adare from Natural Life is our featured guest on episode 103 of the Bees with Ben podcast.
Almost 30 years ago the chance discovery of a native beehive in a Sydney backyard developed into a
daily source of fascination for Antony, who soon established a hobby hive for himself. Then in 1994,
a Japanese scientist published a paper extolling the anticarcinogenic properties of propolis, which
resulted in booming sales in Japan, where a small bottle of propolis could sell for up to $800. Having
used propolis to treat cuts, abrasions and sore throats in his own family, Antony knew that it
worked. He began to talk to people in the industry, and eventually launched his first two products, a
propolis and manuka honey spray and a propolis tincture; so in 1996 the Natural Life brand was
born. Antony managed to get those first two products onto shelves in Sydney airport, which proved
a masterstroke, as a single Japanese tourist would often purchase all the stock, meaning there was
little need for marketing!
Over time, new products were added including royal jelly capsules, propolis candy and toothpaste
and Australian manuka honey. Natural Life now sells to Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, Vietnam and
Kuwait, as well as to Japan, China and Korea. There is also a solid customer base in the Middle East,
and prior to the onset of Covid, Natural Lifeâs products were in all duty free stores and Asian markets
around Australia. Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulations are amongst the
toughest in the world, and Natural Life works continuously with manufacturers, suppliers and
regulators to ensure the products remain of premium quality and potent activity.
But it hasnât all been plain sailing. Retail closures due to Covid resulted in a 40% drop in sales.
Antony recalls that the whole travel industry âevaporatedâ meaning that he had to push the online
side of the business. And although the airports have reopened, we are yet to see a real influx of
Asian tourists, who traditionally drive sales. Furthermore, Antony says whereas propolis is big in
pharmacies across Europe, he is banging his head against a wall trying to get propolis products into
health food stores in this country. Consequently, he has taken it upon himself to educate Australians
about the benefits of propolis, in the hope of generating a significant domestic market. Antony says
he would love see propolis in more stores, as this would increase demand, which in turn would
provide extra income for beekeepers. Just before Covid struck, Natural Life released their âWild Beeâ
skin care range, which is 100% Australian produced, and combines royal jelly, propolis from native
stingless bees, Australian manuka honey and botanicals collected by Aboriginal communities in the
Northern Territory.
www.naturallife.com.au