Meet the Marketing Team
The Steens Team are incredibly passionate about honey, happiness and natural health. Steens is a family owned company – Paul and Sheryl started it 40 years ago, in 1982. They have always been very much into a holistic lifestyle, eating and living as naturally as possible and they’re both obsessed (in a good way!) with nature and wildlife. They live in the Papamoa hills, with a view out over the Bay of Plenty beaches close to many of their family members. Sheryl loves creating pottery, she’s currently studying an arts degree and she LOVES creating whole food recipes for her family and friends who are always at their home with the grandkids.
Paul and Sheryl's way of life is really what Steens Honey is all about as well – appreciating nature for everything that it provides, both perfect and imperfect.
Our honey is harvested in a way that celebrates all the amazing things that bees create, which is why we don’t heat our honey (as this kills the natural enzymes and properties like methylglyoxal, which gives it natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties), and we don’t use fine filters which means all the bio-available bee bread, pollen and wax particles remain in the honey – this gives it a soft, grainy texture. Our honey is genuinely raw in more ways than one, and is the closest you get to eating honey straight out of the hive.
To say that the Marketing team loves honey is a bit of an understatement… From Ellen who’s nickname is Pooh Bear and eats honey out of her 6kg bucket every morning, to Renee who, despite being vegan in all other ways, can’t resist the rich flavour of raw honey!
Keep reading to find out our favourite ways to enjoy honey and to get to know us a bit better. And feel free to reach out any time on Instagram or facebook to tell us your honey stories – we would love to hear from you!
Kelly, Ellen, Summer, Kate & Renee x
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Kelly - Customer Champion
I live in a beautiful town called Papamoa with my husband and 2 little boys who are 5yrs and 3yrs. We recently moved here from Auckland with the desire to have a change of pace and more family time. In my spare time you will find me at the beach or bike riding with my little family, stretching on a yoga mat, spending time with friends and family (mostly eating) and when the kids are in bed, watching a good series with my husband. We love to live a simple, relaxed life and try not to get caught up in the madness that this world often throws at us.
What does natural wellness mean to you?
I have never been a fan of taking medication and I am so lucky that I have never suffered from any serious illnesses that require me to. I will always attempt for a natural option wherever possible. This is even more important to me since having kids, from when they were newborn babies I have researched for natural options. From treating eczema, to colds and coughs, we have had great success in using what nature has to offer. We also eat healthy. As the boys have grown and have become fussier with foods, I will hide their veges in a smoothie to ensure they are still getting all the goodness they need to grow up healthy (there is always a way to get those veges in 😊).
Why is good health so important to you?
Good health means being able to enjoy life to the fullest. Eating healthy, keeping active, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated and enjoying the rewards of more energy to do the things you love.
What are three foods you couldn’t live without?
I have no idea how I am supposed to only choose 3!!
I love cheese...the stronger the better!
Aaallllll summer fruits. Berries, bananas, rock melon, watermelon...YUM!
I'm also a carb girl so I'll have to add some wholegrain bread on there
I would be lying if I didn't say chocolate and coffee too... it's all about balance, right?!
Your favourite thing about working for Steens?
The lovely, friendly, supportive team I work with!! I also love that there is room to grow and learn which is so important to me.
What is your favourite way to enjoy Steens Honey, and which strength is your favourite?
My family and I take honey as a daily dose for our immunity. So, my favourite honey is UMF10. My husband has a teaspoon in the afternoon when he is craving that sweet treat, I have it on my toast, and the boys enjoy a drizzle on their porridge each morning.
Name three words that you think others would use to describe you…
Kind, Bubbly, trustworthy
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Renee - Design & Marketing Assistant
Born and raised in Tauranga, I currently live up in the hills of the Kaimai’s on a beautiful lifestyle block, surrounded by friends and family. My partner and I built a tiny house nearly 4 years ago now which we share with our Cat Leia and her kitten Maple. I’ve always had a love for design and all things creative which is what led me to my role of Design and Marketing Assistant at Steens. Outside of work I love keeping active and going on adventures. On the weekends you’ll find me out on a lake wakeboarding, skiing in the winter, hiking in the bush, or hanging upside down from an aerial hoop.
What does natural wellness mean to you?
For me, natural wellness is a holistic approach through mind body and soul. It’s thriving, not just surviving! I feel like it’s all about balance and trying your best to achieve it... I try to be mindful as to what I put into my body, following a wholefood and plant-based lifestyle. This also led me to evaluate things I use day to day and opting for more natural products/ practices.
Why is good health so important to you?
Health = Happiness for me. Being healthy mentally and physically means being able to enjoy life to its fullest and being able to embrace everything that comes my way! I have a competitive nature and always try to push myself to the limit, it’s important to me to have good health so I can do that in all ways possible.
What are three foods you couldn’t live without?
Potatoes are my favvvourite food and the base of a lot of my dinner meals. I also could not survive without my avo on toast and coffee in the morning!
Your favourite thing about working for Steens?
It’s amazing to work for a company that aligns with my personal values, they’re so much more than just a honey company! I love that I get to do fun and creative things every day and call it a job, it’s been great to work alongside Ellen and learning from her amazing talents!
What is your favourite way to enjoy Steens Honey, and which strength is your favourite?
I love using the Steen’s Squeezy bottles! They’re perfect to use for drizzling over a smoothie bowl (so satisfying to get the perfect drizzle) or as a sweetener in homemade salad dressings. My partner lays it on his toast an inch thick! So I get him the wildflower honey since he gets through it very fast.
Do you have a favourite recipe from our blog?
It’s hard to choose, they are all so beautiful! But I will have to say the plant-based spiced Easter buns. I drool every time I see a picture of them!
Name three words that you think others would use to describe you…
Optimistic, thoughtful, little!
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Ellen - Marketing Manager
I live by the beach with my fiancé in Mount Maunganui, which is a beautiful township in the Bay of Plenty. I was brought up in Northland (which is one of the locations our honey is harvested) and spent most of my years exploring the beach or the bush that surrounded our home in my younger years.
I am mildly obsessed with Tintin and Asterix books, so I have a small collection of these, and my most favourite thing to do when I’m not working is spending time with my family which usually involves some kind of delicious home-made food and a nice bottle of wine.
My mother and her partner live on a lifestyle block and practise permaculture, which is a type of gardening that ensures the soil, flora and fauna are benefiting from diversity on the land. I’m a bit of a water baby (which makes sense being a Scorpio) and I adore swimming in fresh water in summer and soaking in hot spring water in winter. I’ve been working with Steens for nearly 3 years and was involved in the insurrection of the Instagram page when I started… 3900 followers and counting! (share, share, share!)
What does natural wellness mean to you?
Natural wellness for me is a holistic concept. This involves ensuring I'm listening to my body and its reactions to what I'm putting in it (I don't eat gluten, dairy, almonds, onions and a handful of other foods), and your heart and mind to give yourself everything you need to live a balanced lifestyle. I'm very 'feelings' focused, so if an activity or decision doesn't feel right for me, then its a no-go. I love wholefoods, I enjoy relaxing with my fiancé and turning my brain off, and I adore spending time with loved ones.
Why is good health so important to you?
Without my health I don’t have anything! Good health doesn’t just mean making sure I’m not sick, it means living my best life, with optimal nutrition and I am spend a good amount of time learning about what I’m putting into my body. To steal the words of a lovely mentor of mine – my body is my temple!
What are three foods you couldn’t live without?
This is such a tough one! I love food of every size shape and taste but I have to say, the benefits of Raw Honey are one thing I just couldn’t live without, and fresh fruit, and brown rice (and broccoli and avocado and coconut). See? I can’t choose!
Your favourite thing about working for Steens?
I love our team! We have such wonderful people working here, and we are all incredibly supportive, curious, enthusiastic and wonderful.
What is your favourite way to enjoy Steens Honey, and which strength is your favourite?
I have anything from the Daily Range on my toast every single morning without fail. My toast is a gluten free wholegrain slice, extra toasted so its ridiculously crunchy, smothered in UMF 10+ or UMF 15+ with half a banana on top. It goes within seconds! Sometimes I’ll add thick coconut yoghurt to my toast as well if I feel like something a bit more creamy.
Do you have a favourite recipe from our blog?
One of the very first recipes I worked on with Sheryl when I first started, which we photographed up at their home. It was an excellent way to get to know Paul and Sheryl a bit better and to immerse myself in the brand (and we got to eat the photographic subjects afterwards which I was very happy about!) The crispy leek and manuka loaf with crumbed feta and beetroot salad and a dressing of freshly crushed garlic, olive oil, Manuka Honey and loads of parsley straight out of the garden. Seriously delish.
Name three words that you think others would use to describe you…
Loyal, Happy and a Thinker!
Kate - Photographer
I live in Tauranga with my two beautiful children (5 and 7). We love the beach, so spend a lot of time there, camping and swimming in summer or collecting shells and building sandcastles in winter.
Friends and family are important to me, so most of my free time is spent with them, usually over a home cooked meal in my home or theirs. I love to share recipes and learn about new ingredients to keep things interesting.
I prefer to do my exercise outside in the fresh air, so I try to climb our local mountain (Mauao), several times a week. The view once you get to the top is worth all the effort on the way up!
My home is my haven, so when I’m not out socialising or at the beach or playground with the kids you can usually find me cosily nestled at home, painting or reading a book.
What does natural wellness mean to you?
I have set out to learn about holistic health in the past few years and have been fascinated by how everything in our bodies and minds are interlinked. I try to eat well, exercise regularly and get enough sleep, but I also see a chiropractor and reiki master on a regular basis to keep things in balance. I believe that we need a little bit of everything in moderation for our bodies and minds to function at their best.
Why is good health so important to you?
The past few years have been super challenging (on a global as well as personal level) and have really brought home to me the importance of keeping my body functioning well to support a happy life. Keeping myself physically well means that I can be a better Mum, employee, and friend, so I have become much better at making changes if I start to feel myself get run down.
What are three foods you couldn’t live without?
It’s so hard to choose! But chocolate, broccoli and pasta spring to mind…
Your favourite thing about working for Steens?
The team are so amazing and supportive, and I love the weekly challenge of creating beautiful images of food for the blog and social media.
What is your favourite way to enjoy Steens Honey, and which strength is your favourite?
My kids are obsessed with Steens Wildflower honey, and their favourite way to eat it is on what my Mum calls a sushi sandwich - a piece of bread which has been flattened with a rolling pin, spread with honey and then rolled into a log before being cut into slices which slightly resemble pieces of sushi.
We also love using the higher strengths for treating sore throats, rashes, and scratches.
Do you have a favourite recipe from our blog?
The Easy Baked Brie and Honey Cashew Fudge are both super delicious treats which I have made quite a few times for visitors!
Name three words that you think others would use to describe you…
Kind, Real and Creative
Summer - APAC Account Manager
I live with my partner in Tauranga with our cute but sometimes naughty cats, Poppy and Stella. Tauranga is the perfect place for me with good weather, beautiful beach, and great hiking tracks around Bay of Plenty.
In my spare time, I love bush walking, Zumba, and exploring cafes and restaurants. They give me energy in different ways. Oh yeah, and I recently started to try stand up comedy. Wish me luck!
I joined Steens about 6 years ago after I moved to New Zealand. I started with social media content creation and brand education for retail customers and now working closely with our trade partners around the world. Working with Steens is a great mixture of fun, creativity, and connection with nature and great people.
What does natural wellness mean to you?
It is a holistic approach. It is in every aspect in my life, including health eating, being active, learning new things and the ability to take time off from busy life.
Growing up in China, natural remedy is very important in my family. My grandma always told to me have honey water in the morning and she knows so much about traditional Chinese herb medicine. It is still part of my wellness thinking today.
Why is good health so important to you?
Nothing is worse than being sick when you want to do a lot. I left home to study since very young, and I have been travelling a lot and lived in different counties before I moved to New Zealand. Being healthy means the ability to be independent and keep moving with life.
Now I need to be healthy to take care of my cats and more kittens to come.
What are three foods you couldn’t live without?
Why such a hard question! You know I’m the biggest foodie in the team.
If I have to choose, Sichuan hot pot from my hometown is definitely number 1, because you can cook a lot of food in one pot anyway haha.
Then New Zealand wine (is it food?), and a lot of leafy vegetables.
Your favourite thing about working for Steens?
Definitely the team.
Can I say another one? It feels so good when sharing our story with our partners and customers.
What is your favourite way to enjoy Steens Honey, and which strength is your favourite?
Eat straight from a spoon. I normally use UMF20+ because it soothes my throat like magic. It helps me during trade shows and business trips when I need to talk a lot.
Do you have a favourite recipe from our blog?
Crusty sourdough with caramelised leeks and Manuka Honey.
It is a perfect combination of savoury and sweet. I enjoy it on Sunday mornings. And I love leek.
Name three words that you think others would use to describe you…
Energy, fun, dependable
So that's the Steens Marketing Team! We always look forward to hearing any feedback on our instagram and facebook, and love seeing your reviews on our website. Our customers are the reason we try so hard to make our product amazing, and the inspiration behind a lot of our wholefood recipes, and natural baking tips and tricks.
We have also tried to simplify the world of Manuka Honey for you by creating a handy guide 'Which Honey is Best' so you can decide which honey to go for based on your needs, rather than numbers.
Shop our full range, or sign up to our newsletter to hear more from us about the benefits of Manuka Honey, and get the exclusive subscriber deals and latest recipes that our followers love!
Much love, The Steens Team. x
