Chester-based privately-owned farm Sweet Cheeks Farm LLC acquired Tassot Apiaries Inc. to expand its current bee business throughout central and northern New Jersey.
Tassot Apiaries owners Jean-Claude and Bea Tassot have decided to retire after 20 years of business.
“I am thrilled to have found such kindred spirits in the Tassots, who love their bees and providing all-natural products to the community like we do. We are fortunate they were looking to retire when we were looking to expand,” said Sweet Cheeks owner Allison Tolpa in a prepared statement.
Head beekeeper Bed Tolpa inspects bees on Sweet Cheeks Farm. – SWEET CHEEKS FARM
Sweet Cheeks is a family business, with Tolpa’s son Ben as the head beekeeper and daughters Olivia and Mia helping care for the bees and brainstorm and work with the farm’s product offerings.
Prior to the addition of Tassot products, Sweet Cheeks’ offerings include honey, specialty foods, organic eggs, handcrafted small batch soaps, lip balms and essential oil bug repellent products. Tassot Apiaries specializes in raw honey and bee products, including beeswax candles and handcrafted soaps.
Sweet Cheeks will slowly transition to its own branding by the end of the year to ensure a smooth changeover for newly acquired customers. Sweet Cheeks sells at local farmers’ markets, including in Madison, Summit and Princeton; as well as in Easton and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the approximately 300,000 bees Sweet Cheeks has already, this acquisition adds 20 hives now and an additional 20 hives in the spring.
Editor’s note: This story was update at 6:39 p.m. EST on Sept., 15, 2020. A prior version indicated that Sweet Cheeks Farm was located in Hunterdon County, however it is based in Morris County. Tassot Apiaries is based in Hunterdon County.
