Our Story

A Family Business with Heart

Our story began in 2010 with just four bee colonies, but our passion for beekeeping goes far beyond that. My father was already an avid beekeeper in East Germany before 1989, managing many bee colonies. Shortly after restarting, the number of our colonies grew rapidly, and within two years, we had over 50 colonies, primarily with Buckfast queens. Their performance immediately captivated us.

At first, we faced challenges, particularly in sourcing high-quality foundation sheets with a cell size of 5.1 mm. This led to the idea of producing the foundation sheets ourselves. We purchased our first rollers from China and built a semi-automatic machine. The initial attempts were quickly successful. With our entry into the Buckfast Association in Saxony, other beekeepers began to show interest in our products. Our dedication paid off, as I became the breeding coordinator for the association, and my father became the vice-chairman, further increasing our recognition.

In 2014, the demand for high-quality foundation sheets had grown so much that I decided to establish a business for beekeeping supplies. Over the years, we have continuously expanded our range and now offer a comprehensive selection of beekeeping accessories. In 2016, I took over my father's company, merging the diving company "High Tech Diving" and the beekeeping supply business "Zschopautaler Imker" under one name.

My wife Nancy joined the company in 2014 and has been an indispensable support ever since. She handles procurement, sales, customer contacts, and accounting.

With the steadily increasing demand for beeswax foundation sheets, we decided in 2020 to acquire a modern, fully automated machine to make production more efficient. At the same time, we separated beekeeping from beekeeping supplies: my father took over the beekeeping and established a mating station in the Annaburger Heide, while we focused on the beekeeping trade and meeting our customers' needs.

The COVID-19 years further boosted demand, leading us to need additional staff. Fortunately, we found the perfect person in my mother-in-law to ensure the production of our foundation sheets. Her customer-oriented thinking and eye for quality and purity make her ideal for this task.

To position ourselves as a reliable partner, we registered our logo and name as a German trademark at the end of 2023. But that wasn't enough for us: in 2024, we had our foundation sheet production certified organic to set a standard for quality and precision.

We are proud of our journey and are excited to offer you high-quality products related to beekeeping today. In 2024, we will celebrate our 10th anniversary.

Our story is far from over—let's continue it together. Contact us at info@zschopautaler-imker.de or +49 3720 684551, or feel free to visit us at our business premises.