Maoro Honey’s Journey, Bringing Sweetness to Papua New Guinea | Easten Tato

The story of Maoro Food Distributors and Maoro Honey began in 2019, when my father, Mr. Russell Tato, founded the business with a simple yet powerful vision: to champion healthy, locally produced foods across Papua New Guinea. We started, quite literally, with a buzz.

Our venture into honey processing in 2019 led to the birth of Maoro Honey. It’s a natural, locally sourced product, and the secret to its quality lies in our partnership with a dedicated network of farmers in Bena. We purchase their raw honey, and then it makes its way to our facility in Port Moresby for processing and bottling. The word “Maoro” itself is from the Motu language, meaning “true,” and it perfectly encapsulates our blend of Central Province culture with the Eastern Highlands’ “true ave” – symbolizing truly authentic honey.

Our path hasn’t always been smooth. Inconsistent supply due to unpredictable weather patterns and stiff competition from other highland honey producers and imported products have certainly presented challenges. Yet, we’ve persevered and continued to grow. Some of our proudest moments include successfully getting Maoro Honey onto the shelves of 52 supermarkets across Port Moresby simultaneously, acquiring our own 15-seater delivery van, and even partnering with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to explore introducing our honey along the iconic Kokoda Track. Today, Maoro Honey is available in convenient 250g, 350g, and 500g bottles, each one a testament to our commitment to quality. As for the broader honey industry in PNG, it’s a vibrant and growing sector with immense potential.

There’s a strong demand for natural, locally produced goods, and while competition exists, there’s also a real opportunity for businesses like ours to connect directly with consumers who value authenticity and local economic empowerment.

From the very start, I’ve been right alongside my father, supporting our family business. Through Maoro Food Distributors and Maoro Honey, we’re not just selling honey; we’re creating vital employment opportunities for many young people and offering our local farmers efficient, cost-effective services that truly add value to their hard work.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to diversify our product range and continue building a business that not only delivers healthy, authentic PNG-made products but also genuinely empowers our local producers. This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re eager to see what the future holds.