Benoit Raynaud’s honey, based in Mézières-sur-Issoire, won two gold medals

Based at 6, chemin de la Tuilière in Mézières-sur-Issoire, Benoit Raynaud started 15 years ago as an amateur beekeeper with a hive that he had made himself. Then, passionate about this activity, he continued to make others and buy ready-made ones. So, he shared his time, as a solidarity contributor, with part-time work as an employee in the municipality of Val-d’Issoire. Finally, in 2023, he became chief operating officer.

Wildflowers and brambles

Benoit Raynaud is now at the head of 400 hives installed around his home, in neighboring towns, and even in the suburbs of Limoges. But also on the family farm, today operated by one of his brothers (his second brother works in household appliances in Aixe-sur-Vienne). He acquired half a hectare to set up his honey farm in this property which has been in the family since 1800, at a place called Chez Godard, route de Bussière-Boffy.

The quality of Benoit Raynaud’s honey was soon rewarded, since at the beginning of November his wildflower and bramble honey received two 2024 gold medals at the Saveurs de Nouvelle-Aquitaine competition, in Saint-Yrieix. It also produces acacia, sunflower, chestnut and buckwheat honey, as well as creamy. But it also offers processed products such as peanuts coated with honey and sugar, gingerbread made from honey, flour and spices and finally buckwheat honey beer in cooperation with the O’lim brewery in Bellac. .

Swarm breeding

He also started breeding queens and swarms, in order to sell them to other beekeepers. He has already produced around 300 and around a hundred respectively.

“My goal is to have 500 hives. My livestock comes solely from my production and currently my 400 hives give me around six tonnes of honey per year. For sales, I frequent the Christmas markets, and the rest is on the shelves of village grocery stores and in Saint-Junien. I also supply restaurants and I’m on social media. In the future, I will set up my website, but currently, I have a lot of costs to mechanize. It will therefore be in a second phase. » In 15 years, what progress has been made by Benoit Raynaud of which he can be proud.