“I am proud that my ministry has provided funding support to this innovative company through the Island Prosperity Strategy,” said Minister Campbell. “Island Abbey Foods’ methods for dehydrating honey into solid forms has allowed them to create a number of exciting products that have a good potential for success in national and international markets.”

Island Abbey Foods holds the world’s first patent to dehydrate honey into a 100% pure form. Under the brand name “Honibe,” the company has had success with pure honey cubes to sweeten hot drinks called Honey Drops and candies called Honey Delights.

The company is introducing two new product lines: Honey Sprinkles, designed to be used in baking or as an ingredient for industrial producers; and a range of honey lozenges that contain botanical ingredients and use no sugar, other added sweetener, flavourings, additives or preservatives. These lozenges have been developed through a partnership with the Australian company Stirling Products and will be introduced to health food conferences in North America in the coming months. The honey sprinkles will be showcased at the National Restaurant Association show on May 22.

Island Abbey Foods received funding through the 2008-09 Island Prosperity Strategy Pilot Fund to purchase dehydration equipment and conduct pilot testing and through the 2009-10 Island Prosperity Strategy Discovery and Development Fund for research into a pure honey-based lozenge that can deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients.

“We are extremely excited about our upcoming product launches this year,” says Honibe founder John Rowe. “Our Honey Sprinkles will be available in the baking aisle in shaker bottles as well as in individual sachets on tea or coffee shop tables. Our research and development and market success to date would not have been possible without the support of PEI and the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning. Our small, growing company is grateful.”

Honibe plans to market the new products in the United States, as well as Canada, and make a place for itself in the $10 billion annual US market for sugars and sweeteners and the $18.5 billion annual US market for lozenges. Island Abbey Foods currently has 20 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees.