Buzzing with success: Local honey brand takes out Business of the Year

COASTAL Nectar is proof life is sweeter with bees, after the local business this week earned Torquay’s top business honours.

Self-proclaimed honey addict Thomas Earls launched the business in 2020 after an eye-opening trip across South America.

There, he learned how the colour and taste of honey changes between regions and with the season, but it was a week-long “crash course” in the art of beekeeping that had him hooked.

“What’s amazing is that bees forage on different floral sources and they collect the nectar from that,” Earls said.

“What we like to say is that honey is a snapshot of each season in bloom, so it means that if we collect honey [locally] from the bees in spring, that honey is normal lighter and more of a floral flavour, as opposed to through summer and autumn where our eucalyptus trees boom and it’s really strong and powerful honey.”

 

 

Now five years in, Coastal Nectar’s small batch raw honey adorns the shelves of local favourites such as Morta Deli and Dusty’s Whole Foods, while Earls travels across the country sharing his passion for environmental protection with young students through interactive workshops and educational games.

Today (Thursday, September 4), Coastal Nectar was named Business of the Year at the 2025 Torquay Business Awards, presented by the Surf Coast Times.

For this year’s judging panel, it was the business’s uniqueness, creative approach and focus on educating young people that set it apart.

“Here is a business many locals may not hear of in their day-to-day, but one the town can be proud of making such a difference not just in our community but statewide and nationwide and educating where it matters most,” judge David Barke said.

“Full credit to Thomas for his passion and dedication.”

 

 

Barke emphasised the broad impact of the business — operating right across Australia in “such an important field” — despite its small scale, run almost entirely as a “one-man business”.

“We really thought it’s such a unique business,” he said.

“It really goes to the heart of young people. Thomas engages, so often, with schools, not just locally, but right across Victoria and interstate, engaging with young people to educate them about the importance of biodiversity.

“I think instilling that knowledge in young people, particularly when they’re at learning age, really ensures that becomes part of their considerations as they grow into adults.”

Already on the road again as he works to scale up his education program over the next 12 months, Earls was unable to attend the presentation ceremony at The Sands last night. He was represented by his family.

For more information, head to coastalnectar.com.au