Low cider sales will ease burden on apple industry
Soaring demand for cider has been a key contributor to the booming UK apple industry over the last 12 months. However, a poor summer has contributed to lower than anticipated sales of the beverage this year.
While this is on the one hand unfortunate news for the industry, on the flip side it could ease supply pressures in other areas, according to successful grower and supplier of processed apple and other fruit fillings, Fourayes.
The Bramley apple industry braced itself last year as sales of Magners cider increased by an impressive 225%. This followed a staggering 350% increase the year before. Indeed, the cider sector as a whole experienced a 26% volume growth in the year to July 2007.
Philip Acock, managing director at Fourayes, comments.“A much larger portion of the UK’s apple supply than normal was sent to Ireland for cider making last year. This meant availability was tight for other buyers. The problem is exacerbated by poor crops in Poland this year. If Magners takes a reduced share in the coming months this will certainly help to ease supply pressures./”,2007-10-15″
