Israeli Retailers Win Tender to Import 400 Tons of Duty-Free Honey Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Prices Drop 11%

Nine retailers and importers in Israel secured a competitive tender to import 400 tons of honey exempt from customs duties ahead of Rosh Hashanah. The Agriculture Ministry managed the process, receiving 10 bids, with the winners committing to the lowest consumer prices. The offered honey prices range from 14.7 to 18.9 shekels per kilogram, with a weighted average consumer price of 16.6 shekels per kilogram, marking an 11% decrease compared to last year.

Leading the lowest price offers are the supermarket chains Osher Ad, Yochananof, and Machsanei HaShuk. Osher Ad will sell a 1-kilogram jar for 12.9 shekels and a 680-gram jar for 11.9 shekels, down from 18.9 and 12.9 shekels respectively last year. Yochananof, which sold a 500-gram jar for 9.5 shekels last year, will offer a 1-kilogram jar for 14.9 shekels this year. Half Hinnam will sell a 450-gram package for 7.9 shekels, down from 8.9 shekels for 500 grams last year. Victory reduced its price from 19.9 to 17.8 shekels per kilogram. Rami Levy and Carrefour slightly increased prices to 18 shekels per kilogram and 8.5 shekels for 450 grams respectively.

New entrants to the tender include Machsanei HaShuk, selling 500-gram and 1-kilogram packages at 7.4 and 14.8 shekels, and Netiv HaChesed, importing honey for Alaska importer at 8.1 shekels per 450 grams. Importer Willy Food will distribute 500-gram and 1-kilogram packages at 8.9 and 18.9 shekels through ten chains including Salah Dabah, Freshmarket, Shuk HaIr, Zol U’Bigdol, and Super Sapir.

The imported honey must come from World Trade Organization member countries and comply with the Health Ministry’s import requirements. Retailers are required to clearly label the imported honey jars under the duty-free quota, including product price and country of origin.