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Thatchers Cider plants another 13,000 apple trees
Independent family-owner cider producer Thatchers has planted 13,000 apple trees in Somerset this week in an effort to keep up with demand. The post Thatchers Cider plants another 13,000 apple trees appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Independent family-owner cider producer Thatchers has planted 13,000 apple trees in Somerset this week in an effort to keep up with demand.
The new 50-acre orchard – roughly the size of 31 football pitches – will grow two apple varieties, Red Windsor and Katy, that go towards making ciders such as Thatchers Katy, Thatchers Juicy Apple and Thatchers Rosé.
Thatchers Juicy Apple is the cider producer's answer to consumers looking for more eco-conscious drinks. To respond to this, the 4% ABV cider has been made using 100% renewable electricity.
Describing the planting taking place, Thatchers CEO Martin Thatcher said: “Great cider begins in the orchard, so making sure the soil is in peak condition is vitally important. It can be up to eight years from taking on the land, to harvesting our first full crop, and then we want it to be a fruitful orchard for decades to come, producing top quality apples that we can craft into delicious ciders.”
Speaking to db last year, Thatcher revealed: “We’re constantly working to reduce our impact on the environment and have ambitions to be net zero by 2030.”
The new orchard will also capture around 325 tonnes of CO2 a year, in addition to the thousands of tonnes already sequestered into the soil by Thatchers’ existing 500 acres of orchards at Myrtle Farm.
Thatcher explained: "Our orchards are not only places of cider production, but havens for biodiversity; from the bees that pollinate the trees to the worms that enrich the soil.”
Thatcher added: “We’ve been working in partnership with nature for 120 years, and it is a harmonious balance we strive to protect. Every one of our ciders is made using 100% renewable electricity, including power from the 3,500 solar panels on the farm. Nothing is wasted— even the apple pomace leftover from pressing is used for green energy or to feed local cattle, and we’ve installed cutting-edge technology to capture CO2 produced during fermentation and reuse it as bubbles in our cider.”
The move marks the beginning of a new generation at Thatchers, as the family business not only celebrates record demand but is also looking ahead to its fifth generation of cider makers, as Eleanor Thatcher joins the board.
Thatcher said: "Employees from across the business joined the farming team and the Thatcher family to plant the trees.
He revealed that the family were “also joined by special friends from Bath Rugby and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, as well as Great British Bake-Off contestant Briony May Williams, and actor Joe Sims”.
In addition to nurturing its own orchards, Thatchers has donated hundreds of apple trees to groups across the country every year. Over the past five years, the independent cider producer has given away more than 1,500 trees to groups and organisations such as charities and care homes to help create spaces where people can come together and connect with nature.
Thatcher insisted: "We believe orchards can be very special places. That’s why, every year, we celebrate the great outdoors by giving away trees to groups across the country. These orchards offer a place for people to come together, to learn, to share, to reflect on the world around them – and maybe even make a pint or two of cider!"
British cider-making plays a vital role in the UK’s agricultural landscape and contributes £3.6 billion to the economy. Cider also remains a key supporter of the UK hospitality industry, adding £2 billion in value to British pubs, with 1.2 billion pints enjoyed every year.
St Austell Brewery recently signed a new 10-year deal with Thatchers Cider which involved the Cornish brewer’s pubs stocking Thatchers’ brands. As part of the agreement, Thatchers brands became widely available to St Austell Brewery’s 3,000+ free trade customers across the region via its wholesale business, a move that has further strengthened each of the businesses.
Back in 2022, Thatchers signed an export deal with Sovereign Beverage Company to grow the cider brand's distribution internationally and build upon the success it had already achieved during the last decade in more than 20 overseas markets.
The new 50-acre orchard – roughly the size of 31 football pitches – will grow two apple varieties, Red Windsor and Katy, that go towards making ciders such as Thatchers Katy, Thatchers Juicy Apple and Thatchers Rosé.
Thatchers Juicy Apple is the cider producer's answer to consumers looking for more eco-conscious drinks. To respond to this, the 4% ABV cider has been made using 100% renewable electricity.
Describing the planting taking place, Thatchers CEO Martin Thatcher said: “Great cider begins in the orchard, so making sure the soil is in peak condition is vitally important. It can be up to eight years from taking on the land, to harvesting our first full crop, and then we want it to be a fruitful orchard for decades to come, producing top quality apples that we can craft into delicious ciders.”
Speaking to db last year, Thatcher revealed: “We’re constantly working to reduce our impact on the environment and have ambitions to be net zero by 2030.”
The new orchard will also capture around 325 tonnes of CO2 a year, in addition to the thousands of tonnes already sequestered into the soil by Thatchers’ existing 500 acres of orchards at Myrtle Farm.
Thatcher explained: "Our orchards are not only places of cider production, but havens for biodiversity; from the bees that pollinate the trees to the worms that enrich the soil.”
Thatcher added: “We’ve been working in partnership with nature for 120 years, and it is a harmonious balance we strive to protect. Every one of our ciders is made using 100% renewable electricity, including power from the 3,500 solar panels on the farm. Nothing is wasted— even the apple pomace leftover from pressing is used for green energy or to feed local cattle, and we’ve installed cutting-edge technology to capture CO2 produced during fermentation and reuse it as bubbles in our cider.”
The move marks the beginning of a new generation at Thatchers, as the family business not only celebrates record demand but is also looking ahead to its fifth generation of cider makers, as Eleanor Thatcher joins the board.
Thatcher said: "Employees from across the business joined the farming team and the Thatcher family to plant the trees.
He revealed that the family were “also joined by special friends from Bath Rugby and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, as well as Great British Bake-Off contestant Briony May Williams, and actor Joe Sims”.
In addition to nurturing its own orchards, Thatchers has donated hundreds of apple trees to groups across the country every year. Over the past five years, the independent cider producer has given away more than 1,500 trees to groups and organisations such as charities and care homes to help create spaces where people can come together and connect with nature.
Thatcher insisted: "We believe orchards can be very special places. That’s why, every year, we celebrate the great outdoors by giving away trees to groups across the country. These orchards offer a place for people to come together, to learn, to share, to reflect on the world around them – and maybe even make a pint or two of cider!"
British cider-making plays a vital role in the UK’s agricultural landscape and contributes £3.6 billion to the economy. Cider also remains a key supporter of the UK hospitality industry, adding £2 billion in value to British pubs, with 1.2 billion pints enjoyed every year.
St Austell Brewery recently signed a new 10-year deal with Thatchers Cider which involved the Cornish brewer’s pubs stocking Thatchers’ brands. As part of the agreement, Thatchers brands became widely available to St Austell Brewery’s 3,000+ free trade customers across the region via its wholesale business, a move that has further strengthened each of the businesses.
Back in 2022, Thatchers signed an export deal with Sovereign Beverage Company to grow the cider brand's distribution internationally and build upon the success it had already achieved during the last decade in more than 20 overseas markets. 
