Boris Varžak, owner of Varžak honey: It is imperative to offer a product that exceeds customer expectations

The business of Varžak honey is based on the principles of uncompromising quality, reliability, and traceability of every drop of honey produced

In the Varžak family, the tradition of beekeeping has been ongoing since 1978 when it was started by Antun Varžak in the village of Vrbova Posavska in the municipality of Orle, near Velika Gorica. Varžak honey has been on the market for almost thirty years: it is available throughout the region, exported to eight countries, and sold to retail chains, the pharmaceutical industry, the confectionery industry, and bakeries. The business philosophy of owner Borisa Varžaka, son of Antun, is based on the principles of uncompromising quality, reliability, and traceability of every drop of honey produced. He emphasizes that these principles are the foundation of their business and what distinguishes them from other companies in the market.

What business challenges have you faced so far?

– A lot of time has passed since our beginnings, and the journey to where we are now has not been easy. There have been many difficulties, high costs, and sacrifices, especially due to mistakes we made. We often felt that the institutions that were supposed to provide a framework for quality business did not understand us, whether it was regarding the collection of receivables, expansion into foreign markets, or quality control of bee products. Additionally, honey production is a specific business that depends on many factors over which we often have no control. Beekeeping is a long-term and labor-intensive job where results are not immediately visible, requiring patience and perseverance.

How have you fought for your place in the market?

– Today’s market is extremely demanding. Many customers are facing financial challenges and are becoming increasingly cautious when purchasing. Therefore, it is imperative to offer a product that exceeds their expectations. Our strength and reason for long-term survival is the constant quality that surpasses expectations. We have achieved such consistency through a comprehensive traceability process that tracks honey from the apiary to the store shelves. Furthermore, we are continuously dedicated to quality control, investing in modernizing production, and developing our own strictly defined quality standard, where compromises are not an option.

What are the characteristics of your honey? How can consumers recognize quality honey?

– We produce three of our own brands: Klasik, which has been with us since the first days, Dobru Vibru, a craft honey that is neither heated nor filtered, and Mediterru, the best of Croatian honey. Our honey has won numerous awards, of which we are most proud of the gold medals from the London Honey International Awards and Great Taste Awards. Each of our honeys is special in its own way, but they all share top quality, reliability, and safety for consumption. Why do we emphasize this? Because there are products on the global market that ‘pretend’ to be honey but have nothing to do with it. Consumers are offered a large number of alleged methods for testing honey, such as turning honey or ant tests, but the truth is that these are myths. Unfortunately, counterfeiters are becoming increasingly skilled at creating honey without bees, which is why laboratory analysis is necessary to confirm authenticity and quality.

How do you check quality and apply traceability in production?

– Simply put, everything revolves around analysis, and nothing is left to chance. Every honey that enters production is analyzed in the most modern honey analysis laboratory in Bremen, Germany. Honey undergoes a series of analyses, from physicochemical, microbiological, and adulteration analyses to heavy metal, organoleptic, and other analyses. Once we receive the results, we assign it a unique LOT number, highlighted on each jar. The data is programmatically linked with production data, so we know absolutely everything about the final product. If the honey does not meet our quality standard, which is much stricter than the regulations in force, it does not go into production. We demonstrate compliance with all legal norms and the highest level of safety and quality of food products in the production process through the IFS certificate and the ‘Controlled Quality’ labels from the ‘Dr. Andrija Štampar’ Institute and ‘Croatian Quality’ from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

What does the ‘MEDucation’ project encompass?

– After dedicating many years to the production of real and natural honey, we launched the ‘MEDucation’ project, which will raise awareness about the importance of preserving bees, their habitats, and nature. We conduct workshops for elementary school students where they plant a flowering garden for bees, learn the secrets of honey and life in the hive, and at the same time learn what nature is and how to preserve it for their generation and those to come.

Content created in collaboration with Varžak honey.