# Bee-Supporting Lemonades Mikaila Ulmer's Me & The Bees Drink is Contracted to Whole Foods By Meghan Young | Published 2016-03-31 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/me-the-bees References: [atlantablackstar](http://atlantablackstar.com/2016/03/28/11-year-old-lemonade-entrepreneur-elevates-shark-tank-success-to-news-deal-with-whole-foods-stores/) There are many reasons why Me & The Bees is an impressive success story. First of all, it is a brand of lemonade that was created by 11-year-old Mikaila Ulmer. Secondly, it was first supported by Shark Tank and now Whole Foods. Thirdly, but certainly not lastly, it supports local bees by using honey. Featuring a recipe passed down by her grandmother that also includes flaxseed, Me & The Bees was created out of an original fear of bees. Ulmer confesses, "I didn’t enjoy the bee stings at all. They scared me. But then something strange happened. I became fascinated with bees. I learned all about what they do for me and our ecosystem. So then I thought, what if I make something that helps honeybees and uses my Great Granny Helen’s recipe?" ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 23% | Activity: 37% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Youth Entrepreneurship:** The success of 11-year-old Mikaila Ulmer's lemonade brand highlights the growing trend of youth entrepreneurship, providing opportunities for young people to create innovative business ventures. - **Sustainable Food and Beverage:** The focus on using honey from local bees in Me & The Bees lemonades showcases the trend of sustainable sourcing and promoting ecological balance in the food and beverage industry. - **Branding with Purpose:** Me & The Bees lemonades' commitment to supporting local bees and educating consumers about the importance of bees reflects the trend of purpose-driven branding, where companies align their values with social and environmental causes. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Beverage Manufacturing:** The success of Me & The Bees lemonades presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the beverage manufacturing industry, encouraging the development of products with sustainable and socially conscious ingredients. - **Youth-focused Business and Education:** The rise of youth entrepreneurship, as exemplified by Mikaila Ulmer, creates opportunities for industries focused on supporting and educating young entrepreneurs, providing resources and mentorship programs to foster their success. - **Environmental Conservation:** The emphasis on supporting local bees in the food and beverage industry highlights the need for disruptive innovation in environmental conservation, encouraging advancements in sustainable farming practices and protection of pollinators. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Honey-Infused Organic Waters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/honey-infused-organic-water.md) - [Child-Friendly Lemonade Acquisitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/poppilu-1.md) - [Honey-Sweetened Soft Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hive-mind-honeyade.md) - [Ginger Honey Lemonades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ginger-honey-lemonade.md) - [Manuka Honey Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manuka-honey-soda.md) - [Honey-Powered Fruit Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beeup.md) - [Real Ingredient-Focused Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milos-tea-company.md) - [Bee-Free Honey Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/melibio.md) - [Honey-Based Artisanal Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farm-to-body.md)