Beekeeping entrepreneurs deliver snub to Dragons Peter Jones

Entrepreneurial duo and third-generation beekeepers Joe Harper and Andy Sugden have delivered a stunning snub to Dragons’ Den business aficionado Peter Jones.

Featuring on the BBC on Sunday night, Harper, 32, and Sugden, 31, from Manchester turned down Jones when he offered £65,000 but wanted a 25% share in the company.

The duo caused a stir when they appeared on the prime-time show dressed in bright pink and blue beekeeping outfits marketing Just Bee, the UK’s only honey water.

After turning down Jones they have secured listings from a host of leading retailers from Boots’ Meal Dealt to Waitrose and Holland and Barrett – a major coup for the company which is still less than two years old.

Just Bee was the first product of its kind to appear on the show, as a range of three honey-infused spring water drinks with no refined sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Because the drinks use honey, they are 100% natural, have less than 4g of sugar per 100ml and contain less than 50 calories in each 330ml drink.

This made the launch very timely, as the Government is due to introduce a tax on high sugar soft drinks in 2018. Subsequently the sale of flavoured water drinks has seen huge growth, increasing by 10% in the UK last year.

Co-founder Harper, who comes from a family of beekeepers in Lancashire, said: “It was really hard for us to say no to Peter Jones.

“But we really believe more people are looking for a natural alternative to sugary soft drinks. Using honey is a great alternative and gives us a huge opportunity which we didn’t think Peter’s offer reflected.

“We’ve received excellent support from national retailers and the public and are excited to see what the future holds. We are very disappointed Peter won’t be joining us though, we’d have loved to see him wearing one of our beekeeper’s outfits.”

Just Bee includes three refreshing flavours: apple & ginger; blueberry and lemon and green tea.