Mann Lake Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of beekeeping supplies, today announced the acquisition of Hive Hugger, a company that developed an award-winning set of insulation products based on the condensing hive approach to beekeeping. Hive Hugger’s co-founder, Peggy DeSanto, will continue in her role as an active ambassador for the use of condensing hives.

The concept of the condensing hive is to mimic the conditions of the tree cavities that form the honeybee’s natural home. With an R-32 insulating Crown Top Panel and an R-8 hive body Wrap, Hive Hugger significantly reduces the bees’ need to thermoregulate their colony, leading to reduced honey consumption, earlier spring brood development, and high winter survival rates. Beekeepers report that colonies with less thermal stress, both in hot summers and cold winters, are better able to mount a defense to other stressors that challenge them such as pests and diseases.

Hive Hugger is a great solution for beekeepers who want robust insulating qualities in their beehives but prefer keeping their bees in traditional wooden hives over plastic or polystyrene hives.

“Depending on the beekeeper’s climate, thermoregulation can be an incredible resource drainer in standard beehives,” said Rob Wright, CEO of Mann Lake Ltd. “Hive Hugger has developed a fantastic product that allows beekeepers with standard hive bodies to instantly create a condensing hive environment for their bees.”

Peggy DeSanto, Master beekeeper and co-founder of Hive Hugger, added: “Demand for our product has grown faster than we are able to fulfill it. Joining Mann Lake gives our product the manufacturing, distribution and marketing resources that will allow us to reach more beekeepers with the condensing hive approach. I look forward to turning over the administrative responsibilities of running the business to Mann Lake so I can focus more on spreading the word about this transformative approach to keeping bees.”

Hive Hugger’s production and distribution will be relocated from its current location in the Minneapolis area to Mann Lake’s headquarters in Hackensack, Minnesota.

About Mann Lake Ltd.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Hackensack, Minnesota, Mann Lake Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of beekeeping supplies. The company operates distribution and retail locations in Minnesota, Florida, California, and Kentucky, alongside dozens of authorized dealers throughout North America. Through its Stromberg’s Chickens division, Mann Lake also supplies products for raising poultry. Learn more at www.mannlakeltd.com.

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About Hive Hugger

Hive Hugger was developed by co-founders Peggy DeSanto and Henry Cousineau as a response to Peggy’s devastation at her winter colony losses. Inspired by the science of Etienne Tardif, Derek Mitchell, Tom Seeley, Bill Hesbach and Randy Oliver, Peggy developed the Hive Hugger products with the help of Henry’s expertise in insulation materials.

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