Mar 19, 2025
Members of Parliament met with cider makers in the House of Commons this week to pledge their support to the Great British cider industry.
Sarah Dyke MP opened the event by saying “Since becoming an MP, I have enjoyed visiting cider makers and seeing the heart and soul that goes into making this quintessentially British drink. Cider makers play an important role in the south-west economy and as Members of Parliament we must do all we can to ensure the Great British cider industry flourishes and prospers in years to come.”
David Sheppy, chair of the NACM and 6th generation master cider maker, welcomed over 100 cider makers, MPs and those connected to the cider industry who gathered to celebrate the heritage and importance of the most traditional of British drinks. He explained that “Cider making is not just a business. It is the hub of family life, and the relationship between cider makers and apple growers is unique. However, the costs of doing business have escalated and the impacts have potential to be devastating.”
A raft of new, government led changes and a market that has been in decline means that Cider Makers have faced a difficult few years. The alcohol duty reforms introduced in 2023 changed excise duty structures for cider, adding complexity and costs. A further increase in Excise Duty came into effect in February. In addition, businesses are facing increases in NI and National Living Wage from April.
Whilst the cider industry recognises the importance of moving towards a circular economy, there are concerns that the approach to the Collection and Packaging Reforms is lacking coordination. Cost increases in producer recycling notes came into effect in January, EPR will be introduced in April resulting in cider makers receiving recharges for the cost of local recycling. The deposit return scheme due in 2027 will require new labels for all ciders and added costs to operate. The combined effect of these will see significant price increases for consumers and further complexity in red tape for cider makers.
Changes to farming were raised as a major concern for all in the room, with inheritance tax and sustainable farming initiatives highlighted as creating uncertainty for current and future generations of farmers and cider makers.
David concluded that despite the challenges, there was a feeling of optimism in the room and called for recognition for the industry in the Spring Statement. “The next generation of cider makers will need to see a UK that recognises the importance of cider making as a significant economic contributor. They will need a government that recognises the potential for cider growth both in the UK and as an important part of the UK export story. They will hope for a government that values the centuries of heritage unique to the UK of cider makers.”
Feb 17, 2025
Welcome to the Fifth TCCPA Trade Conference
Thursday 27th & Friday 28th March
Two days of interactive workshops and seminars aimed at aspiring and existing cidermakers in the UK and beyond with over 20 speakers and panelists presenting on a range of topics covering orcharding, cidermaking and business.
Organised by the Three Counties Cider and Perry Association and hosted at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford. Sponsored by The National Association of Cider Makers, Murphy & Son Wine and The London Cider House.
For more information and to book visit https://craftcon.co.uk/
Dec 6, 2024
It is important that you check you are correctly registered with HMRC before February next year. On 1st March their new digitised systems will go live and if you are not correctly registered now, you will be unable to use the new system.
You will need to check that your registration is correct for both Cider (for ciders that currently conform to HMRC Notice 162), and for Other Fermented Products (for Flavoured ciders).
Full details from HMRC are provided below. If you need more information or have any questions, please contact HMRC via the contact details on this link or via mailbox.alcoholpolicy@hmrc.gov.uk.
Ensure that you have the correct HMRC alcoholic production registrations and licences
HMRC’s new digital alcohol duty returns and payments service goes live from 1 March 2025. The digital service will replace the EX606 return form for cider, wine and other fermented products (OFP – previously known as ‘made-wine’) producers.
Currently:
- Producing cider (as per the definition in Finance (No.2) Act 2023) requires a cider registration.
- Producing fruit-flavoured, spiced or other “cider” variations requires an OFP licence, and such products pay duty at the OFP, and not cider, duty rate.
- To produce both cider and OFP products prior to 1 February 2025 you should have applied for, and been granted, both of the above.
Existing alcoholic product producers will have their current registrations and licences migrated into the new service by HMRC. The new service will only allow duty payment for those alcoholic products you are approved to make on 1 February 2025.
Failing to have the correct licences in place prior to 1 February 2025 could result in delays with submitting your alcohol duty returns in the new service. If you require an OFP licence to make OFPs, please apply by completing and issuing a WMW1 form as soon as possible.
Nov 25, 2024
Sandford Orchards has just launched the 2025 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards which offer aspiring cider makers the chance to win an invaluable package of advice, guidance and guaranteed listings in the on and off trade. These unique awards, which are now in their fourth year, are free to enter, open to cider makers producing between 3,000 and 50,000 litres of cider or perry per year and designed to support the future of cider in the UK. The closing date is 31st January 2025.
Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards and founder of the awards comments: ”When we launched the inaugural Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards at the end of 2019, we had no idea that they would prove to be such a huge success. I set them up because we wanted to give something back to the industry that I love and I wanted to ensure that fledgling cider makers, who share my passion for real cider, were given the opportunity to thrive. Business is tough and it can be really daunting trying to get started. We are keen to support emerging cider makers in order to secure the future of quality cider enjoyment for generations to come and the response since the launch in 2019 has been incredibly encouraging. There is a hugely talented pool of new cider makers in the UK and we are looking forward to meeting more of them as part of the 2025 award process.”
The Breakthrough Cider Maker Award entrants will be judged by industry experts including Tom Oliver, Gabe Cook and Mary Topp and the winner will receive a prize package that includes a £500 Vigo voucher, a listing at their local Stable Pizza, a listing at The London Cider House, a Sandford Orchards collaboration limited edition cider and a visit by Sandford Orchards’ cider makers to offer practical help and advice about set up. The two runners up will both receive a £200 voucher from Bag In Box Shop UK and all three winners will receive a 12 month listing at Darts Farm, Devon and a 12 month listing on www.sandfordorchards.co.uk. Plus, everyone who enters will receive personalised, practical and actionable feedback.
Andy Jenkins (pictured) from Ganley and Naish, the most recent winners of the award comments : “Winning the award proved to myself that I can make cider, and cider to a good standard. As silly as that sounds, having peer approval has been hugely validating. Being in the company of amazing previous winners and runners up, is an exclusive club that I am going to cherish forever.”
Gabe Cook, The Ciderologist and awards’ judge adds: “It is a joy to be part of these utterly unique and crucial Breakthrough Cider Awards. To give small cider makers not only a platform to shine, but to have real financial and technical support is fabulous. Bravo to Sandford Orchards for, not for the first time, thinking about the big picture and giving something back to the cider community.”
The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards were launched by Sandford Orchards at the end of 2019 and aim to recognise and celebrate excellent quality whole juice ciders from around the UK. Sandford Orchards would like to thank Vigo, The Bag In Box Shop, The Stable and The London Cider House for their support and prize donations.
For further information on the Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/cider-awards or follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Nov 1, 2024
The Chancellor has just announced a wide range of changes in one of the longest Budget statements seen in recent years. The sheer complexity of changes included in the statement will take time to review and better understand the full impacts for businesses. However, at first glance, there is little for the cider industry to cheer about.
UK Cider making has a unique business model. It is partly about making cider by fermenting apple juice to make alcohol, but when blended by a skilled cider maker, it is about marketing and selling a wonderful range of drinks, running a business that employs people and contributing to the local community. Cider makers also grow apples and work closely with local farmers to ensure that there is sufficient fruit to make their ciders, working together to harvest and mill the fruit to make the much-needed apple juice.
The Autumn Budget appears to have targeted each of these aspects of cider making in ways that will negatively impact the industry for years to come.
Alcohol duty was increased for packaged ciders by the higher rate of inflation figure from February next year. The cider industry had asked for a reduction in duty to reverse the hugely negative impacts from the 10.1% duty hike in August 2023. From February next year cider drinkers will see further increases to the cost of the ciders that they buy in bottles and cans, either in the pub or at home.
The Chancellor announced that excise duty on draught ciders would be reduced by 1.7% to better support the pub. Whilst this is welcomed, as 2/3rds of cider value sales come from the hospitality sector, it fails to recognise the huge amount of cider sold in bottles across UK pubs. In addition, the reduction in business rate relief for the hospitality sector will result in additional pressure on the pub sector, already in significant decline. The cider industry depends on a vibrant and healthy hospitality industry.
Cider makers are businesses and the increase in employer National Insurance, alongside such a significant cut to the threshold, is a bitter pill to swallow for producers. The pressure that this will add to profitability can only result in either higher prices for cider drinkers or reduced employment. With so many cider makers operating tourist attractions, providing tours, shops and restaurants, the increase in National Living Wage again puts pressure on the cost of doing business.
Finally, cider makers are often family businesses with their roots in agriculture. Many families started making cider decades ago, alongside the family farming operation. The decision to target these hard working families through inheritance tax, ensuring that the farm must shrink with each generation, puts farming, cider apple orchards and the wonderful UK cider industry at risk.
UK Cider Makers support more than 11,500 jobs, 15,500 acres of cider apples orchards, 300 farmers, and attract more than 1 million tourists each year. The category is valued at more than £3billion and contributes £34million to agriculture in farm gate value of cider apples. It is critically important that the government now looks to work with cider makers, farmers and the hospitality sector to understand how it can reverse the worst of these impacts and encourage growth and innovation.
Apr 30, 2024
This special springtime opportunity to enjoy the local orchards famed for their cider, dessert and culinary fruit, takes place over two days on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May. This year, community organisers the Big Apple Association have spread their wings to co-ordinate more activities than ever across three familiar venues, Putley Parish Hall, Court Farm Barn in Aylton and Putley’s Dragon Orchard, each offering a different experience. Putley Parish Hall will be the welcome hub, where visitors can park, buy their entrance tickets (£5 for adults, children under 16 free, valid for all three venues), pick up leaflets and start walks, both guided and ‘freestyle’, around the orchards. It will also be the centre for the famous Blossomtime lunches and teas, provided in turn by Aylton Church, Munsley WI, Ledbury Young Farmers and Putley WI. Court Farm Barn, Aylton will be the centre for arts, crafts, demonstrations, workshops and talks, where Laughing Betsy will co-ordinate a collaboration between visitors, craftspeople and artists to create an installation reflecting themes of regeneration, re-use, natural materials and nature. Dragon Orchard will host sample tastings selected from 150 entries to the 2024 Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials, a number of cider/perry makers selling their wares and music, poetry and entertainment in the orchard. Or visitors can just wander amongst the fruit trees, soaking up the sounds and scents of nature. Visitors will be encouraged to walk between the three venues – they are all within easy reach of each other – but for those who may need some assistance or just for the sheer fun of it, a tractor and passenger trailer will be available, as has happened at Harvestime for several years now. Speakers include Adam Wells, author of ‘Perry: A Drinker’s Guide’ and Gabe Cook, the well known and now locally resident Ciderologist. Full programme details are available at https://www.bigapple.org.uk/blossomtime/
