About us
GVAI was born on a fateful day in 2023. Far from Liuzhou City in Guangxi Province, we wound along a rough and narrow road through bamboo forests and small villages to reach the beekeeper's camp. Sumac honey (五倍子蜜) was in the hives, and soon someone opened a bee box and brought me a honeycomb to taste (bees included). The sky opened, and GVAI was born.
Since 2013, we've done a lot of things in our business, micMAC Global, but it has all led to "Beauty," which is the meaning of GVAI in the Zhuang language — the beauty of the landscapes, the wild and flavorful honey, and the dedication of traditional beekeepers who persist in farming genuine Chinese native bees.
Traditional migratory beekeeping and honey gathering is arduous work, a dying art in a world that honors efficiency and uniformity. Yet, the highest quality and richest flavors require something else — patience and honoring craft. Our honeys are almost all from single flower sources, and each flower grants a distinct flavor to its honey. When people taste our honeys, the variety and richness is an unexpected delight.
Why is our honey different? Almost all honey bought in stores and online is produced by Italian bees. They make more per hive, are easier to care for, and fly further to gather pollen. But our honey is made by Chinese bees. They are smaller, make less honey, fly closer to the flower fields, but produce the richest flavors of honey you can find. More trouble? Yes. Worth it? YES!
Straight from the hive to your table, GVAI specializes in Pure Honey for Smart Nutrition, a true flavor adventure.
The Story of GVAI
Our Mission
Deliver pure, organic honey to sweeten the lives of your loved ones.
To do so, we collaborate with local producers who care about the environment and cultivate their flowers with love.
The Story of GVAI Mead
Transform your space with our stunning floral arrangements, where elegance meets freshness. Elevate your environment with bouquets that blend natural beauty and artistic design seamlessly.
Our Beekeepers
Sourced only from the stunning valleys of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, our honey is hand-harvested by local Zhuang beekeepers whose families have kept bees for generations. We are honored to enjoy a close partnership, jointly protecting nature's sweet gift.
Meet our team
Experienced professionals dedicated to their craft.
Tom Harper
Chief Executive Officer
Tom is a lifelong storyteller and builder who turned a 25-year career in publishing, marketing, and education into a mission to create world-class craft mead in China.
Founder and CEO, Tom sets the vision and strategy for the company-from sourcing and product development to to brand positioning and team leadership. He builds partnerships with beekeepers and growers, navigates China's regulatory and distribution landscape, and ensures the company's commitment to quality, authenticity, and local value creation at scale.
Nathan Greene
Chief Technological Officer
A co-founder overseeing technology and finance, Nathan has a Computer Science Degree and a Master's in Strategic Communications. He designs and maintains the company's digital backbone-from websites and content systems to business and accounting tools.
Andy Yu
Master Brewer and Mead Mazer
Andy is a craft beverage artisan and seasoned operations leader who has spent over a decade mastering fermentation while building thriving businesses across China.
As Master Brewer, Andy combines artisan intuition with operational rigor, building sustainable production while ensuring every bottle reflects genuine passion for the craft.
Hans Zheng
Master Winemaker
Hans is a globally trained winemaker and fermentation specialist.
With 13+ years of experience working with leading producers in New Zealand, Australia, and China-and major accolades including "Best Chinese Red Wine" at the 2016 CWSA and top scoring Marselan and the 14th G100 competition, Hans pairs artisan sensory skill with rigorous production standards.
Alex Liu
Head of Branding and Marketing
Alex is a brand architect and market strategist who has spent a decade navigating China's dynamic food and beverage landscape. He has built his own brand from the ground up-personally overseeing logo design, packaging, product development, and market positioning, while guiding other brands through the creative and commercial challenges of launching and scaling in competitive markets.
Sun Yan (Flight)
HR Director
Sun Yan (Flight) was born and raised in Qingdao. Flight was the very first employee of GVAI. She currently handles all HR issues, including visa acquisition, all company legal and compliance issues, bookkeeping and accounting, product management and online stores, and other duties. Her skills and efforts have been vital to the growth of the company.