2010 is a milestone year for GloryBee Foods, as the company celebrates its 35th anniversary. The company started as a small family honey business, operating out of the garage of Dick and Pat Turanski’s home in Eugene , Oregon.
Initially, Dick and Pat were the only employees, processing and selling honey harvested from the Turanski’s 25 backyard hives. As demand grew, Dick added more hives and then eventually began to purchase honey from other beekeepers in order to meet his customers’ demands. The Turanskis also sold beekeeping supplies, a portion of the business which increased dramatically after Dick taught a local beekeeping class.
Eventually, Dick sold his beehives—which had grown in number to 300—to focus on his growing business. GloryBee began selling unsulphured blackstrap molasses, which became the first Aunt Patty’s brand product, in 1983. In 1986, the company launched the original 5 flavors of HoneyStix. Over the years, the business continued to grow. In addition to honey, GloryBee Foods now sells many other natural sweeteners, oils, dried fruits and nuts, herbs, spices, beekeeping supplies, and supplies for soap and candle making. Today, GloryBee employs over 100 people in their Eugene facilities. The GloryBee trucks carry honey and other natural food products throughout the Pacific Northwest and HoneyStix are sold as far away as Australia.