Cosana New Zealand

Chris Bowman: A Key Figure in New Zealand’s Mānuka Honey Industry

Chris Bowman is a highly respected and influential leader in the New Zealand Mānuka honey industry, with a career spanning senior roles at several of the nation’s most prominent honey companies. His work was pivotal in advancing honey processing standards, driving export growth, and shaping industry-wide regulations.

Based in the Taupō region, his most recent and notable role is as the Chief Executive Officer and part-owner of Cosana New Zealand. He was instrumental in establishing Cosana’s purpose-built, state-of-the-art honey processing facility overlooking Lake Taupō. Under his leadership, which began in 2021, the company successfully streamlined its manufacturing and quality control, becoming a key one-stop-shop for international clients. Cosana focuses on processing and exporting a wide range of bee products, including pure Mānuka honey, multifloral blends, and propolis tinctures, to a global market.

Before his venture with Cosana, Bowman’s expertise shaped other major players in the sector. He served as the Chief of Operations at King Honey, where he was a key figure in the company’s growth and the international success of its Bee+ Mānuka honey brand. His career also included a foundational role as Operations Manager at Mānuka Health NZ, one of the industry’s pioneering companies. This extensive experience across different facets of the honey business gave him unparalleled insight into operations, quality assurance, and global supply chains.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Mr. Bowman is dedicated to upholding the integrity and reputation of New Zealand’s most famous export. He was an active member of Apiculture New Zealand’s Standards, Compliance, and Regulatory focus group. In this capacity, he worked alongside other industry leaders to advocate for effective regulation and robust standards, ensuring that consumers worldwide could trust the safety and authenticity of New Zealand Mānuka honey.
Chris Bowman’s record is one of innovation, leadership, and a deep-seated passion for the Mānuka honey industry. His contributions significantly bolster New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of high-quality, authentic honey products.